Uprootmap
Traverse City vs Kalamazoo
Traverse City 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 Traverse City to Kalamazoo
In 2022-2023, 28 households filed a move from Traverse City to Kalamazoo (about 41 people, average adjusted gross income $78,536). 30 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,399 in Traverse City and $976 in Kalamazoo. Traverse City 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 89% in Traverse City.
Kalamazoo averages 168 sunny days, with July highs around 81°F and January nights around 24°F. Traverse City is 182 sunny days, 80°F in July, 23°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Kalamazoo and 23 in Traverse City.
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, 28 households moved Traverse City → Kalamazoo (about 41 people, average AGI $78,536). 30 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 Traverse City and Kalamazoo changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 226 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,300
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $500–$900
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Dig into Kalamazoo
Questions
Is Kalamazoo cheaper than Traverse City after tax and rent?
Yes. Kalamazoo leaves about $409 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,399 in Traverse City 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 Traverse City 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.