CostIndexUSA

Kalamazoo, MI vs La Crosse, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableWI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

La Crosse is slightly cheaper than Kalamazoo — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kalamazoo, you would need $77,500 in La Crosse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing15.0%
Kalamazoo
81.6
La Crosse
69.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
93.7
La Crosse
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
104.5
La Crosse
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
94.6
La Crosse
94.5
Utilities9.9%
Kalamazoo
99.3
La Crosse
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in La Crosse, WI
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in La Crosse

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 94.8) = salary × 0.9684. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Kalamazoo, MI

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

La Crosse, WI

Median Home Price
$315,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
69.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Kalamazoo has 15.0% lower housing costs compared to La Crosse.

Income & Job Market

Kalamazoo, MI

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

La Crosse, WI

Median Household Income
$71,300
Per Capita Income
$40,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
52,680
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailTourism

Affordability at a Glance

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

Kalamazoo, MI
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

La Crosse, WI
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.