CostIndexUSA

Kalamazoo, MI vs Roanoke, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Roanoke
93.6
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Roanoke is slightly cheaper than Kalamazoo — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing3.8%
Kalamazoo
81.6
Roanoke
78.5
🛒 Groceries+3.3%
Kalamazoo
93.7
Roanoke
96.8
🚗 Transportation1.0%
Kalamazoo
104.5
Roanoke
103.5
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Kalamazoo
94.6
Roanoke
93.7
Utilities10.5%
Kalamazoo
99.3
Roanoke
88.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Roanoke, VA
$79,000
$1,000 less needed in Roanoke

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 94.8) = salary × 0.9873. 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×

Roanoke, VA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
78.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Kalamazoo has 3.8% lower housing costs compared to Roanoke.

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

Roanoke, VA

Median Household Income
$65,500
Per Capita Income
$37,300
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
99,394
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailFinanceGovernment

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)

Roanoke, VA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.