CostIndexUSA

Kalamazoo, MI vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Kalamazoo — 9.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kalamazoo, you would need $72,500 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−36.5%
Kalamazoo
81.6
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
93.7
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.8%
Kalamazoo
104.5
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.9%
Kalamazoo
94.6
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−27.8%
Kalamazoo
99.3
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$72,500
$7,500 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 94.8) = salary × 0.9061. 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×

Lake Charles, LA

Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
51.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Kalamazoo has 36.5% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

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

Lake Charles, LA

Median Household Income
$65,100
Per Capita Income
$37,100
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
77,403
Top Industries
EnergyPetrochemicalsHealthcareGamingManufacturing

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)

Lake Charles, LA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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

Lake Charles vs other cities

Lake Charles, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 90.8
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 87.2
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 83.6
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Appleton, WI
Index: 85.9Index: 92.4
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Jonesboro, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 85.9

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.