CostIndexUSA

Kalamazoo, MI vs Lafayette, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lafayette is moderately cheaper than Kalamazoo — 8.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kalamazoo, you would need $73,600 in Lafayette. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−27.9%
Kalamazoo
81.6
Lafayette
58.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
93.7
Lafayette
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.8%
Kalamazoo
104.5
Lafayette
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.9%
Kalamazoo
94.6
Lafayette
90.9
⚡ Utilities−28.3%
Kalamazoo
99.3
Lafayette
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lafayette, LA
$73,600
$6,400 less needed in Lafayette

Formula: salary × (87.2 ÷ 94.8) = salary × 0.9198. 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×

Lafayette, LA

Median Home Price
$194,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
58.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.2×

Kalamazoo has 27.9% lower housing costs compared to Lafayette.

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

Lafayette, LA

Median Household Income
$57,300
Per Capita Income
$32,700
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
120,623
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareEducationManufacturingRetail

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)

Lafayette, LA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Kalamazoo vs other cities

Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Ann Arbor, MI
Index: 94.8Index: 100.9
Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Detroit, MI
Index: 94.8Index: 100.3
Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Flint, MI
Index: 94.8Index: 93
Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Bowling Green, KY
Index: 94.8Index: 90.2
Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Daytona Beach, FL
Index: 94.8Index: 99.4

Lafayette vs other cities

Lafayette, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 90.8
Lafayette, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 85.9
Lafayette, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 83.6
Lafayette, LA
vs
College Station, TX
Index: 87.2Index: 91
Lafayette, LA
vs
Hartford, CT
Index: 87.2Index: 102.7

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.