Cost of Living in Kalamazoo, MI
| Cost of Living in Kalamazoo, MI | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 38% lower | 40% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 2% lower | 2% lower |
| Food | 3% lower | 3% lower |
| Healthcare | 11% lower | 10% lower |
| Transportation | 4% lower | 2% lower |
| Goods & Services | 13% lower | 10% lower |
The cost of living in Kalamazoo, MI is 17% lower than the state average and 16% lower than the national average. Kalamazoo, MI housing is 40% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 2% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% cheaper in Kalamazoo, MI than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 10% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 10% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 10% cheaper in Kalamazoo, MI.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Kalamazoo is $1,318, while home prices circle around $298,697.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Kalamazoo, energy bills cost around $203.46 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.74 in Kalamazoo, a dozen eggs go for around $2.99 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.48.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Kalamazoo, an optometry check-up costs around $75.33, while a dentist appointment is priced $114.50 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.41 in Kalamazoo, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $53.77.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $24.85 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $20.51.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Kalamazoo, you should budget around $9.08 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $19.78, while dry cleaning costs about $19.90.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Kalamazoo, the median household income is $48,965.