Cost of Living in Indiana
Updated November 2026 · population 6,851,073
Indiana prices are 6.7% below the US average (index 93.3), ranking 34th most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest saving at 73.9, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,328 a month.
Prices by category
Indiana price index by category, US average = 100: All items 93.3, Housing (rents) 73.9, Goods 95.5, Utilities 85.5, Other services 99.1
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Indiana (whole state) | 93.3 |
| Metropolitan areas of Indiana | 94.5 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Indiana | 88.7 |
Cities in Indiana
Select a column heading to sort.
| Indianapolis | 885,860 | 94.2 | $2,454 | $4,869 | $1,156 | $224,800 |
| Fort Wayne | 268,589 | 92.5 | $2,274 | $4,643 | $999 | $188,900 |
| Evansville | 116,116 | 91.4 | $2,234 | $4,663 | $975 | $143,100 |
| South Bend | 103,085 | 91.7 | $2,269 | $4,666 | $1,033 | $140,400 |
| Fishers | 102,337 | 100.0 | $2,836 | $5,614 | $1,611 | $391,000 |
| Carmel | 101,651 | 101.3 | $3,001 | $5,617 | $1,712 | $486,800 |
| Bloomington | 80,049 | 95.5 | $2,489 | $5,012 | $1,200 | $321,400 |
| Hammond | 76,768 | 99.8 | $2,441 | $5,033 | $1,134 | $159,900 |
| Noblesville | 73,362 | 97.2 | $2,673 | $5,198 | $1,389 | $349,700 |
| Lafayette | 71,159 | 93.2 | $2,383 | $4,789 | $1,079 | $172,800 |
| Gary | 68,113 | 98.2 | $2,268 | $4,900 | $1,012 | $94,700 |
| Greenwood | 66,029 | 96.2 | $2,579 | $5,338 | $1,312 | $276,100 |
| Muncie | 64,751 | 89.9 | $2,158 | $4,549 | $904 | $97,300 |
| Kokomo | 59,122 | 90.2 | $2,159 | $4,581 | $939 | $137,400 |
| Terre Haute | 58,427 | 89.2 | $2,125 | $4,476 | $922 | $115,700 |
| Anderson | 55,367 | 91.2 | $2,150 | $4,586 | $925 | $119,000 |
| Westfield | 54,677 | 100.8 | $2,778 | $5,530 | $1,667 | $425,700 |
| Elkhart | 53,733 | 90.5 | $2,290 | $4,732 | $998 | $139,500 |
| Columbus | 51,824 | 93.1 | $2,455 | $4,805 | $1,157 | $244,200 |
| Jeffersonville | 51,043 | 93.2 | $2,335 | $4,819 | $1,148 | $216,800 |
| Mishawaka | 51,021 | 92.1 | $2,429 | $4,834 | $1,070 | $155,500 |
| Winona Lake | 5,080 | 93.0 | $2,360 | $4,835 | $1,132 | $274,500 |
Metro areas in Indiana
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 103.6 | 112.0 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 95.7 | 88.9 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 95.4 | 87.6 |
| Bloomington, IN | 95.1 | 85.6 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 93.4 | 76.4 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 93.1 | 78.6 |
| Columbus, IN | 93.0 | 75.5 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 92.9 | 74.6 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 92.6 | 72.3 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 91.7 | 68.5 |
| Evansville, IN | 91.5 | 66.7 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 90.3 | 64.3 |
| Kokomo, IN | 89.6 | 59.3 |
| Muncie, IN | 88.1 | 57.5 |
| Terre Haute, IN | 87.8 | 51.9 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Indiana.
Modelled monthly budget at Indiana average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Indiana (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $712 | $8,544 | 31% |
| Utilities | $243 | $2,916 | 10% |
| Food at home | $269 | $3,228 | 12% |
| Transportation | $595 | $7,140 | 26% |
| Health care | $348 | $4,176 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $161 | $1,932 | 7% |
| Total | $2,328 | $27,936 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Indiana (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $864 | $10,368 | 22% |
| Utilities | $384 | $4,608 | 10% |
| Food at home | $497 | $5,964 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,177 | $14,124 | 30% |
| Health care | $646 | $7,752 | 17% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $318 | $3,816 | 8% |
| Total | $3,886 | $46,632 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Indiana (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $980 | $11,760 | 21% |
| Utilities | $468 | $5,616 | 10% |
| Food at home | $709 | $8,508 | 15% |
| Transportation | $1,567 | $18,804 | 33% |
| Health care | $602 | $7,224 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $409 | $4,908 | 9% |
| Total | $4,735 | $56,820 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
17.02¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +5.0% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Midwest (PADD 2)
$4.10/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +45.0% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the Midwest region rose +4.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 92.8 | 91.8 | 92.6 | 91.9 | 92.1 | 93.3 |
Change over the period: +0.5 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Indiana an expensive state to live in?
Indiana has a cost of living index of 93.3 (US = 100), 6.7% below the US average. It ranks 34th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 73.9 (rank 36), goods 95.5, utilities 85.5 and other services 99.1. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Indiana?
At Indiana state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,328 for a single adult, $3,886 for a couple and $4,735 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 94.5 and nonmetro areas 88.7.
What is the median rent and home value in Indiana?
The median gross rent in Indiana is $1,062 a month and the median home value is $218,200 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 29.1% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 18.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, Midwest region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology