| Index | New Castle | Indiana | National |
| Cost of living | 81 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 51 | 72 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 96 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 91 | 94 | 100 |

The cost of living in New Castle affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in New Castle is 81, which is 19% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
New Castle housing costs are 49.3% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, New Castle residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.
Wondering if New Castle is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In New Castle, for example, the median home price is 57.9% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 29.2% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with New Castle boasting a median household income of $63,055, which is 22.5% lower than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In New Castle, the housing index comes in at 49.3% lower than the national average.
Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In New Castle, the transportation index stands at 6.3% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In New Castle, the groceries index is 4.4% lower than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for New Castle are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across 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 | $77,189 | $6,432 | $1,801 | $2,316 |
| Renters | $36,976 | $3,081 | $863 | $1,109 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Indiana | 7% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Indiana | 3.15% | 3.15% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Blountsville, IN | 86 | 76 | 24.4% |
| Mount Auburn, IN | 96 | 80 | 20.2% |
| Cadiz, IN | 251 | 80 | 19.8% |
| Losantville, IN | 264 | 80 | 20.1% |
| Mooreland, IN | 349 | 80 | 19.9% |
| New Castle, IN | 17,779 | 81 | 18.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Ocean Acres, NJ | 17,774 | 127 | 26.6% |
| Port Hope, ON | 17,769 | n/a | |
| Miramichi, NB | 17,761 | n/a | |
| Nederland, TX | 17,748 | 95 | 4.7% |
| Pampa, TX | 17,743 | 85 | 14.6% |
| New Castle, IN | 17,779 | 81 | 18.6% |