CostIndexUSA

Kalamazoo, MI vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Lincoln is slightly cheaper than Kalamazoo — 3.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kalamazoo, you would need $77,300 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.2%
Kalamazoo
81.6
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
93.7
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation6.6%
Kalamazoo
104.5
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.7%
Kalamazoo
94.6
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities22.7%
Kalamazoo
99.3
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$77,300
$2,700 less needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 94.8) = salary × 0.9662. 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×

Lincoln, NE

Median Home Price
$289,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
84.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Lincoln has 3.2% higher housing costs compared to Kalamazoo.

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

Lincoln, NE

Median Household Income
$71,200
Per Capita Income
$40,600
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Population
289,102
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentFinanceManufacturing

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)

Lincoln, NE
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.