Uprootmap
Ann Arbor vs Kalamazoo
Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo
Photo: Mxobe / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Kalamazoo are close to the US rate in this release, 6.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo
In 2022-2023, 83 households filed a move from Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo (about 116 people, average adjusted gross income $50,048). 117 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,492 in Ann Arbor and $976 in Kalamazoo. Ann Arbor has a state tax on wages. Kalamazoo has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Kalamazoo is 89% of the national level for the same work, against 91% in Ann Arbor.
Kalamazoo averages 168 sunny days, with July highs around 81°F and January nights around 24°F. Ann Arbor is 173 sunny days, 82°F in July, 23°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Kalamazoo and 23 in Ann Arbor.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 83 households moved Ann Arbor → Kalamazoo (about 116 people, average AGI $50,048). 117 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 104 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
Explore more
Dig into Kalamazoo
Questions
Is Kalamazoo cheaper than Ann Arbor after tax and rent?
Yes. Kalamazoo leaves about $372 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,492 in Ann Arbor and $976 in Kalamazoo.
Does Kalamazoo have state income tax?
Kalamazoo is in Michigan, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.