CostIndexUSA

Appleton, WI vs Kalamazoo, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWI
Appleton
92.4
overall index
$1,125/mo rent
MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Appleton is slightly cheaper than Kalamazoo — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Appleton, you would need $82,100 in Kalamazoo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+15.3%
Appleton
70.8
Kalamazoo
81.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Appleton
93.8
Kalamazoo
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Appleton
104.4
Kalamazoo
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Appleton
94.4
Kalamazoo
94.6
Utilities+9.6%
Appleton
90.6
Kalamazoo
99.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Appleton to see what you'd need to earn in Kalamazoo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Kalamazoo, MI
$82,100
$2,100 more needed in Kalamazoo

Formula: salary × (94.8 ÷ 92.4) = salary × 1.0260. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Appleton, WI

Median Home Price
$333,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,125
Housing Index
70.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Kalamazoo, MI

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
81.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Kalamazoo has 15.3% higher housing costs compared to Appleton.

Income & Job Market

Appleton, WI

Median Household Income
$84,000
Per Capita Income
$47,900
Unemployment Rate
1.8%
Population
77,315
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

Kalamazoo, MI

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
72,305
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingPharmaceuticalsFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Appleton, WI
6.2×income-to-rent ratio

84% of income left after rent (median)

Kalamazoo, MI
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.