| Index | Indiana | Pennsylvania | National |
| Cost of living | 89 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 66 | 90 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 103 | 101 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Indiana? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Indiana stands at 89, making it 11% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 10 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Indiana and this is how they responded. 40% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 60% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Indiana an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Indiana, the median home price is 36.5% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 26.6% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Indiana come in at $46,079, which is 43.3% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Indiana, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates kick off at 3.07%.
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.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Indiana, the groceries index is 2.4% lower than the national average.
The cost of living data for Indiana shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $124,533 | $10,378 | $2,906 | $3,736 |
| Renters | $29,443 | $2,454 | $687 | $883 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Pennsylvania | 6% | 8% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% | 3.07% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Graceton, PA | 164 | 99 | 0.9% |
| Heilwood, PA | 201 | 75 | 25.3% |
| Coral, PA | 346 | 80 | 19.8% |
| Commodore, PA | 336 | 81 | 19.0% |
| Lucerne Mines, PA | 969 | 82 | 17.6% |
| Indiana, PA | 13,616 | 89 | 10.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Black Forest, CO | 13,615 | 172 | 72.4% |
| Warrensville Heights, OH | 13,615 | 85 | 14.9% |
| Waianae, HI | 13,612 | 141 | 40.9% |
| Conway, FL | 13,622 | 116 | 15.7% |
| Rogers, MN | 13,607 | 124 | 24.2% |
| Indiana, PA | 13,616 | 89 | 10.7% |
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