Uprootmap
Kalamazoo vs Muskegon
Kalamazoo and Muskegon
Photo: bigmikesndtech / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Muskegon are above the US rate in this release, 8.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Kalamazoo to Muskegon
In 2022-2023, 41 households filed a move from Kalamazoo to Muskegon (about 63 people, average adjusted gross income $39,561). 48 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $976 in Kalamazoo and $1,007 in Muskegon. Kalamazoo has a state tax on wages. Muskegon has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Muskegon is 85% of the national level for the same work, against 89% in Kalamazoo.
Muskegon averages 177 sunny days, with July highs around 76°F and January nights around 27°F. Kalamazoo is 168 sunny days, 81°F in July, 24°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Muskegon 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, 41 households moved Kalamazoo → Muskegon (about 63 people, average AGI $39,561). 48 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 Muskegon changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 112 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,100
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Muskegon
Questions
Is Muskegon cheaper than Kalamazoo after tax and rent?
No. Muskegon leaves about $86 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $976 in Kalamazoo and $1,007 in Muskegon.
Does Muskegon have state income tax?
Muskegon is in Michigan, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Kalamazoo to Muskegon?
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.