City Comparison

Beaumont vs Kalamazoo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Kalamazoo

Michigan
88
Below Average
$191,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$51,000
Median Income

The Verdict

11.4%

Beaumont is 11.4% less expensive than Kalamazoo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $84,615 in Kalamazoo to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
60
Kalamazoo
Groceries
96
Beaumont
97
Kalamazoo
Utilities
102
Beaumont
96
Kalamazoo
Transportation
93
Beaumont
101
Kalamazoo
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
96
Kalamazoo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $84,615 in Kalamazoo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Kalamazoo equals $66,477 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Kalamazoo

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is higher Kalamazoo's 60, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $191,000. The $25,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $925/mo in Kalamazoo, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 97 in Kalamazoo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $461/month in Kalamazoo. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 96 in Kalamazoo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $384 in Kalamazoo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 96 in Kalamazoo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $51,000 in Kalamazoo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $57,955 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,190/month in Kalamazoo. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Kalamazoo, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 11.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,615 in Kalamazoo, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Kalamazoo's is 60 with median homes at $191,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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