Uprootmap
Kalamazoo vs Chicago
Kalamazoo and Chicago
Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Chicago are above the US rate in this release, 11.2 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Kalamazoo to Chicago
In 2022-2023, 233 households filed a move from Kalamazoo to Chicago (about 329 people, average adjusted gross income $66,399). 188 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $976 in Kalamazoo and $1,782 in Chicago. Kalamazoo has a state tax on wages. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Chicago is 105% of the national level for the same work, against 89% in Kalamazoo.
Chicago averages 189 sunny days, with July highs around 84°F and January nights around 20°F. Kalamazoo is 168 sunny days, 81°F in July, 24°F in January. Commutes average 33 minutes in Chicago and 20 in Kalamazoo.
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, 233 households moved Kalamazoo → Chicago (about 329 people, average AGI $66,399). 188 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 Kalamazoo and Chicago 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 Chicago
Questions
Is Chicago cheaper than Kalamazoo after tax and rent?
No. Chicago leaves about $757 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $976 in Kalamazoo and $1,782 in Chicago.
Does Chicago have state income tax?
Chicago is in Illinois, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Kalamazoo to Chicago?
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.