Uprootmap
Chicago vs Kalamazoo
Chicago 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 Chicago to Kalamazoo
In 2022-2023, 188 households filed a move from Chicago to Kalamazoo (about 282 people, average adjusted gross income $63,851). 233 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $976 in Kalamazoo. Chicago 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 105% in Chicago.
Kalamazoo averages 168 sunny days, with July highs around 81°F and January nights around 24°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Kalamazoo and 33 in Chicago.
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, 188 households moved Chicago → Kalamazoo (about 282 people, average AGI $63,851). 233 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 Chicago and Kalamazoo changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 148 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,150
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
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Dig into Kalamazoo
Questions
Is Kalamazoo cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Kalamazoo leaves about $757 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago 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 Chicago 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.