A-
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
15%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Griffith Indiana National
Cost of living9890100
Goods & Services10794100
Groceries10498100
Health care10896100
Housing8572100
Transportation10795100
Utilities89107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Griffith, IN

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Griffith is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Griffith is 98, which is 2% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Griffith are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Griffith can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Griffith Affordable?

Is Griffith affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Griffith, for instance, where the median home price falls 19.3% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 6% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Griffith flaunting a median household income of $67,452, 21.9% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Griffith?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Griffith, healthcare costs are 7.7% higher than the national average.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Griffith, is 15.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Griffith cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Griffith is 10% higher than the Indiana average
  • The cost of living in Griffith is 2% lower than the national average
  • Griffith housing is 15% lower than the national average
  • Indiana general sales tax is 37% higher than the national average
  • Indiana state income tax is 43% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Griffith

See all the best places to live around Griffith

Compare Griffith, IN Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$80,742$6,729$1,884$2,423
      Renters$37,292$3,108$870$1,119
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Griffith, IN, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Griffith have a median income of $80,742. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,884 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $37,292, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $870.

      Indiana Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Indiana 7% 7%

      Indiana Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Indiana 3.23% 3.23%

      Goods & Services

      Item Griffith National avg. Difference
      Haircut $33.69$24.2638.9%
      Beauty Salon $53.44$45.5617.3%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.27$1.281.1%
      Movie $17.91$12.1347.6%
      Bowling $24.58$18.0036.6%

      Groceries

      Item Griffith National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.28$5.849.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.42$1.579.7%
      Milk $4.87$4.674.3%
      Potatoes $4.90$4.930.7%
      Pizza $13.41$12.0910.9%
      Beer $10.00$10.414.0%

      Health Care

      Item Griffith National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $118.27$125.685.9%
      Doctor $167.67$135.7823.5%
      Dentist $128.22$113.2913.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.97$10.652.9%
      Lipitor $382.34$468.6018.4%

      Housing

      Item Griffith National avg. Difference
      Home Price $149,100.00$184,700.0019.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,578.06$2,346.699.9%
      Apartment Rent $892.00$949.006.0%

      Transportation

      Item Griffith National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.56$3.462.7%
      Tire Balancing $70.87$59.9218.3%

      Utilities

      Item Griffith National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $148.58$193.9923.4%
      Phone $210.03$192.259.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Wheeler, IN2291043.9%
      Ford Heights, IL2,7058614.2%
      East Chicago, IN28,0448712.7%
      Gary, IN75,4868812.0%
      Phoenix, IL1,4028812.0%
      Griffith, IN16,198981.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Stanford, CA16,200325224.9%
      Hernando, MS16,2061000.1%
      Mount Clemens, MI16,212918.9%
      Fairview Park, OH16,219955.5%
      Los Osos, CA16,17416362.9%
      Griffith, IN16,198981.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.