Baldwin City, KS vs South Haven, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

South Haven, MI has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% lower than Baldwin City, KS.

Baldwin City, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,030 / month
South Haven, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Baldwin City, KS and South Haven, MI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $269/month in South Haven, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,227 in South Haven, MI

Regional cost estimates: Baldwin City, KS uses Kansas City, MO. South Haven, MI uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 0.8%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$269
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.2K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Baldwin City, KS

Population:5K
Cost Index:
81.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$347K

South Haven, MI

Population:4K
Cost Index:
80.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$352K

Planning the move to South Haven?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Baldwin City, KS

The Sunflower State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 5K residents.

South Haven, MI

The Great Lakes State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Baldwin City, KS vs South Haven, MI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 20.3%
Baldwin City, KS
$2,054
South Haven, MI
$2,471
Difference
$417
more
Transportation
↑ 14.1%
Baldwin City, KS
$1,318
South Haven, MI
$1,504
Difference
$186
more
Other
↓ 9.7%
Baldwin City, KS
$1,743
South Haven, MI
$1,574
Difference
$169
less
Healthcare
↓ 11.0%
Baldwin City, KS
$692
South Haven, MI
$616
Difference
$76.05
less
All Utilities
↓ 11.9%
Baldwin City, KS
$610
South Haven, MI
$538
Difference
$72.73
less
Groceries
↓ 1.5%
Baldwin City, KS
$1,082
South Haven, MI
$1,066
Difference
$16.04
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$770
To$770
→ $0
1 Bed
From$860
To$820
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$1,030
To$1,070
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,440
To$1,400
↓ $40.00
Baldwin City, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/mo

South Haven, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$820/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Baldwin City, KS
$7,769
Monthly in South Haven, MI
$269
Difference

Home Values

Baldwin City
South Haven
$347K
Median Value
$352K
↑ +1.3%
YoY Change
↑ +1.2%
↑ +39.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.4%

Homes in South Haven are 1% more expensive than Baldwin City

Calculate payment - Baldwin CityCalculate payment - South Haven

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$170
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.4%
Rate difference

Baldwin City, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

South Haven, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Baldwin City, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

South Haven, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Baldwin City
South Haven
46 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
59.3%
Good Air Days
35.8%
97 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Baldwin City, KS to South Haven, MI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in South Haven, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Baldwin City, KS. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Baldwin City to South Haven moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to South Haven, MI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Baldwin City, KS vs South Haven, MI

How do the cost estimates for Baldwin City, KS and South Haven, MI compare?

South Haven, MI has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% lower than Baldwin City, KS. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Baldwin City, KS, the model estimates $153,227 in South Haven, MI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Baldwin City, KS and South Haven, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,030/month in Baldwin City, KS and $1,070/month in South Haven, MI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Kansas and Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to South Haven, MI

Other cities in a similar price range

San Antonio, TXIndianapolis, INColumbus, OH

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison