CostIndexUSA

Indianapolis, IN vs Kalamazoo, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Indianapolis
95.7
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Kalamazoo is slightly cheaper than Indianapolis — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Indianapolis, you would need $79,200 in Kalamazoo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing8.2%
Indianapolis
88.9
Kalamazoo
81.6
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Indianapolis
94.3
Kalamazoo
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Indianapolis
104.1
Kalamazoo
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Indianapolis
94.2
Kalamazoo
94.6
Utilities+14.9%
Indianapolis
86.4
Kalamazoo
99.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kalamazoo, MI
$79,200
$800 less needed in Kalamazoo

Formula: salary × (94.8 ÷ 95.7) = salary × 0.9906. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Indianapolis, IN

Median Home Price
$283,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
88.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Kalamazoo, MI

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

Indianapolis has 8.2% lower housing costs compared to Kalamazoo.

Income & Job Market

Indianapolis, IN

Median Household Income
$77,900
Per Capita Income
$44,400
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
887,642
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceLogisticsSports

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).

Indianapolis, IN
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.