CostIndexUSA

Fargo, ND vs Kalamazoo, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Fargo is slightly cheaper than Kalamazoo — 4.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fargo, you would need $83,400 in Kalamazoo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+0.6%
Fargo
81.1
Kalamazoo
81.6
🛒 Groceries2.1%
Fargo
95.7
Kalamazoo
93.7
🚗 Transportation+9.0%
Fargo
95.9
Kalamazoo
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+9.0%
Fargo
86.8
Kalamazoo
94.6
Utilities+28.5%
Fargo
77.3
Kalamazoo
99.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kalamazoo, MI
$83,400
$3,400 more needed in Kalamazoo

Formula: salary × (94.8 ÷ 90.9) = salary × 1.0429. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fargo, ND

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
81.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.7×

Kalamazoo, MI

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

Kalamazoo has 0.6% higher housing costs compared to Fargo.

Income & Job Market

Fargo, ND

Median Household Income
$72,900
Per Capita Income
$41,600
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
125,990
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationTechnologyRetail

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).

Fargo, ND
5.5×income-to-rent ratio

82% 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.