Kalamazoo, MI vs Cleveland, OH: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Cleveland, OH and Kalamazoo, MI are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Kalamazoo works out to about $74,300 in Cleveland, before taxes.
- Housing is 2.6% lower in Cleveland, goods 0.1% lower and other services 0.6% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,440 a month in Cleveland and $1,287 in Kalamazoo, $1,836 a year more in Cleveland (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $250,000 in Cleveland and $274,000 in Kalamazoo.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.2%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Kalamazoo and Cleveland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Cleveland, OH
All items Kalamazoo, MI: 94.8 Cleveland, OH: 93.9
Goods Kalamazoo, MI: 93.7 Cleveland, OH: 93.6
Housing (rents) Kalamazoo, MI: 81.6 Cleveland, OH: 79.4
Utilities Kalamazoo, MI: 99.3 Cleveland, OH: 96.0
Other services Kalamazoo, MI: 99.6 Cleveland, OH: 98.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kalamazoo, MI | Cleveland, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.8 | 93.9 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 81.6 | 79.4 |
| Utilities | 99.3 | 96.0 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.9 |
| Category | Kalamazoo | Cleveland | Cleveland vs Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.8 | 93.9 | −1.0% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 81.6 | 79.4 | −2.6% |
| Utilities | 99.3 | 96.0 | −3.3% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.9 | −0.6% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,287 | $1,440 | +11.9% |
| Typical home value | $274,000 | $250,000 | −8.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Kalamazoo | $75,000 | $74,300 | −1.0% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Kalamazoo and Cleveland has narrowed since 2008: 4.9 points then, 0.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Cleveland, OH
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kalamazoo, MI | Cleveland, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.5 | 92.6 |
| 2009 | 97.7 | 96.1 |
| 2010 | 95.5 | 94.2 |
| 2011 | 93.7 | 94.8 |
| 2012 | 95.4 | 95.0 |
| 2013 | 96.6 | 96.3 |
| 2014 | 96.3 | 96.0 |
| 2015 | 93.1 | 95.4 |
| 2016 | 96.4 | 95.4 |
| 2017 | 93.4 | 95.3 |
| 2018 | 94.9 | 94.6 |
| 2019 | 94.1 | 94.3 |
| 2020 | 95.3 | 93.3 |
| 2021 | 93.1 | 93.8 |
| 2022 | 94.8 | 93.0 |
| 2023 | 94.1 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 94.8 | 93.9 |
Goods
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Cleveland, OH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kalamazoo, MI | Cleveland, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 90.3 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 95.5 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 92.4 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 95.1 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 98.0 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 97.7 | 96.7 |
| 2016 | 96.8 | 94.9 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 95.5 |
| 2018 | 97.1 | 97.3 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 93.7 | 93.9 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2022 | 92.1 | 92.3 |
| 2023 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Cleveland, OH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kalamazoo, MI | Cleveland, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.7 | 85.2 |
| 2009 | 92.0 | 88.0 |
| 2010 | 83.2 | 86.6 |
| 2011 | 79.1 | 85.0 |
| 2012 | 85.3 | 82.2 |
| 2013 | 90.1 | 90.1 |
| 2014 | 90.9 | 84.4 |
| 2015 | 77.4 | 83.0 |
| 2016 | 95.8 | 83.8 |
| 2017 | 82.1 | 83.6 |
| 2018 | 84.4 | 83.6 |
| 2019 | 75.7 | 79.4 |
| 2020 | 89.3 | 80.9 |
| 2021 | 76.2 | 81.7 |
| 2022 | 89.5 | 81.8 |
| 2023 | 82.6 | 78.2 |
| 2024 | 81.6 | 79.4 |
Utilities
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Cleveland, OH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kalamazoo, MI | Cleveland, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.3 | 112.7 |
| 2009 | 101.3 | 112.6 |
| 2010 | 102.8 | 90.4 |
| 2011 | 105.0 | 90.4 |
| 2012 | 107.0 | 86.6 |
| 2013 | 106.5 | 92.3 |
| 2014 | 98.3 | 89.6 |
| 2015 | 97.3 | 93.2 |
| 2016 | 96.9 | 90.4 |
| 2017 | 100.8 | 82.9 |
| 2018 | 104.5 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 101.4 | 90.4 |
| 2020 | 105.4 | 91.3 |
| 2021 | 104.8 | 92.1 |
| 2022 | 98.0 | 87.2 |
| 2023 | 97.9 | 88.3 |
| 2024 | 99.3 | 96.0 |
Other services
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Cleveland, OH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kalamazoo, MI | Cleveland, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 | 95.4 |
| 2009 | 99.7 | 98.3 |
| 2010 | 99.1 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 98.1 |
| 2012 | 97.1 | 97.8 |
| 2013 | 97.9 | 95.9 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 95.0 | 98.6 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 99.9 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 96.5 | 96.3 |
| 2019 | 98.6 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 97.8 | 97.6 |
| 2021 | 97.9 | 97.5 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 97.7 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 97.5 |
| 2024 | 99.6 | 98.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,440 in Cleveland vs $1,287 in Kalamazoo
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Cleveland, OH
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Kalamazoo, MI | Cleveland, OH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $732 | $813 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $721 | $820 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $759 | $826 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $744 | $821 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $756 | $829 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $772 | $840 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $795 | $841 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $776 | $834 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $794 | $852 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $810 | $869 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $812 | $867 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $817 | $861 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $828 | $882 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $853 | $890 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $861 | $896 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $869 | $904 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $881 | $916 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $885 | $938 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $900 | $940 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $919 | $939 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $917 | $960 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $921 | $984 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $933 | $1,009 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $945 | $999 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $960 | $1,028 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $988 | $1,054 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,031 | $1,088 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,040 | $1,106 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,060 | $1,126 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,099 | $1,165 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,120 | $1,184 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,110 | $1,179 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,117 | $1,194 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,134 | $1,218 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,132 | $1,238 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,135 | $1,253 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,155 | $1,270 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,182 | $1,306 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,188 | $1,317 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,200 | $1,332 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,216 | $1,350 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,220 | $1,368 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,227 | $1,378 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,223 | $1,392 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,241 | $1,412 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,279 | $1,420 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,287 | $1,440 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $250,000 in Cleveland vs $274,000 in Kalamazoo
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Cleveland, OH
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Kalamazoo, MI | Cleveland, OH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $136K | $122K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $140K | $123K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $142K | $126K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $144K | $127K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $146K | $129K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $148K | $131K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $150K | $131K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $150K | $133K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $151K | $135K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $154K | $137K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $156K | $139K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $160K | $141K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $163K | $143K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $166K | $146K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $169K | $148K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $171K | $149K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $174K | $153K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $178K | $154K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $178K | $155K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $181K | $156K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $186K | $159K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $189K | $160K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $191K | $163K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $199K | $172K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $207K | $179K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $216K | $187K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $221K | $189K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $224K | $189K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $232K | $197K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $240K | $206K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $239K | $207K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $238K | $207K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $237K | $207K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $244K | $211K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $248K | $216K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $248K | $219K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $252K | $222K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $256K | $227K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $256K | $230K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $259K | $233K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $261K | $236K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $261K | $238K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $263K | $241K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $267K | $243K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $271K | $246K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $273K | $248K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $274K | $250K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Kalamazoo, MI
- Cost of living in Cleveland, OH
- Reverse: moving from Cleveland to Kalamazoo
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.