Cost of living in Indiana

Everyday prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the US average, the 18th lowest of 51 states and DC.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

7% cheaperEveryday prices¹18th lowest of 51
$299,000Typical home^2,3$1,643/mo mortgage
$1,218/mo2-bed rent⁴Utilities included
$124,369$150K in New York¹Buys the same life in Indiana

Indiana cities we cover

Cheapest first. Tap one for monthly costs, weather and flights.^1,2,4

Muncie12% cheaper than average
Home
$181,500
Mortgage
$997/mo
2-bed rent
$919
See Muncie
bubba73 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Terre Haute12% cheaper than average
Home
$189,625
Mortgage
$1,042/mo
2-bed rent
$901
See Terre Haute
Evansville8% cheaper than average
Home
$259,225
Mortgage
$1,425/mo
2-bed rent
$1,087
See Evansville
Fort Wayne7% cheaper than average
Home
$309,450
Mortgage
$1,701/mo
2-bed rent
$1,216
See Fort Wayne
Indianapolis4% cheaper than average
Home
$310,000
Mortgage
$1,704/mo
2-bed rent
$1,397
See Indianapolis
Bloomington5% cheaper than average
Home
$359,675
Mortgage
$1,977/mo
2-bed rent
$1,358
See Bloomington

Indiana next to New York and the US

Longer bar = costs more.^1,4,2,3

IndianaUnited StatesNew York metro

Everyday prices
7% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
Housing, rent included
26% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
2-bedroom rent$1,218/mo
22% less than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
Typical home for sale$299,000
29% less than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $1,643/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.

How affordable is Indiana?

Rent and home prices next to what households earn.⁶

$76,180

Typical household incomeA year · 42nd highest of 51

19%

Of income goes to rentA year of 2-bed rent ($1,218/mo) against median income ($76,180). 23rd lowest of 51.

3.9

Years of income to buy a home$299,000 median listing against $76,180 income. 10th lowest of 50.

Are people moving to Indiana?

12,197 more people moved to Indiana from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

YearLeftArrivedNet moves
2019-20+1,323
2020-21+15,069
2021-22+3,966
2022-23+3,077
2023-24+6,024
2024-25+12,197

Where Americans are moving⁵

Metro areas in Indiana

Cheapest first. Tap one for its full cost of living.^1,4,2

Price levelUS averageShorter bar = cheaper, longer = pricier

Show 2 more

Indiana next to its neighbors

The states that border Indiana, on the same measures. The number is each state's national rank on everyday prices.^1,4,2

12Kentucky10% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,089
Typical home
$307,775
Net moves
+7,269
17Ohio7% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,190
Typical home
$284,000
Net moves
+11,926
18IndianaThis state7% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,218
Typical home
$299,000
Net moves
+12,197
24Michigan4% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,280
Typical home
$299,900
Net moves
+1,796
33IllinoisAbout the US average
2-bed rent
$1,416
Typical home
$324,950
Net moves
-40,017

Indiana by the numbers

Every figure on this page, as tables

Indiana next to New York and the US

Place	Price level	Housing	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent
Indiana	93.3	73.9	$299,000	$1,643	$1,218
United States	100.0	100.0	$419,250	$2,304	$1,563
New York metro	112.6	148.6	$742,000	$4,078	$1,997

Indiana cities we cover

City	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent	Price level
Muncie	$181,500	$997	$919	88.1
Terre Haute	$189,625	$1,042	$901	87.8
Evansville	$259,225	$1,425	$1,087	91.5
Fort Wayne	$309,450	$1,701	$1,216	92.6
Indianapolis	$310,000	$1,704	$1,397	95.7
Bloomington	$359,675	$1,977	$1,358	95.1

Metro areas in Indiana

Metro	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home
Terre Haute, IN	87.8	$901	$189,625
Muncie, IN	88.1	$919	$181,500
Evansville, IN	91.5	$1,087	$259,225
Fort Wayne, IN	92.6	$1,216	$309,450
Bloomington, IN	95.1	$1,358	$359,675
Indianapolis, IN	95.7	$1,397	$310,000

Indiana next to its neighbors

State	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home	Net moves from other states
Indiana	93.3	$1,218	$299,000	+12,197
Illinois	100.0	$1,416	$324,950	-40,017
Kentucky	90.2	$1,089	$307,775	+7,269
Michigan	96.2	$1,280	$299,900	+1,796
Ohio	92.8	$1,190	$284,000	+11,926

Net moves from other states

Year (July to July)	Net moves from other states
2019-20	+1,323
2020-21	+15,069
2021-22	+3,966
2022-23	+3,077
2023-24	+6,024
2024-25	+12,197

States with a similar cost of living to Indiana

Keep comparing

Indiana cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Indiana?

Everyday prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the US average, the 18th lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 73.9 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $299,000 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $1,643 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,218 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $124,369 in Indiana.

Is Indiana cheap or expensive to live in?

Cheaper than average. Indiana's regional price parity is 93.3, so the same basket of goods, services and rent costs 6.7% less than the US average (BEA, 2024).

How much does a house cost in Indiana?

The median listed home in Indiana is $299,000 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 8th lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $1,643 a month.

How much is rent in Indiana?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in Indiana is $1,218 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).

What salary in Indiana equals $150,000 in New York?

About $124,369, using BEA regional price parities for Indiana (93.3) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.

Are people moving to Indiana?

12,197 more people moved to Indiana from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

Which Indiana cities do you cover?

Muncie ($181,500), Terre Haute ($189,625), Evansville ($259,225), Fort Wayne ($309,450), Indianapolis ($310,000), Bloomington ($359,675). Each has its own page with monthly costs, weather and flights.

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Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.

Sources for this page