Bluffton, IN Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Bluffton, IN Summary

Cost of living in Bluffton research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Bluffton is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Indiana, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Bluffton is 85, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Bluffton is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Bluffton ranks as the #23 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.

  • Bluffton ranks as the #511 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Bluffton is $181,707.

  • The median income in Bluffton is $57,929.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
85
Bluffton's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Bluffton, IN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bluffton has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Indiana, Bluffton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Indiana's index of 92.

The standard of living in Bluffton ranks as #23 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Bluffton ranks as the #105 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.

For more reading on life in Bluffton, check out:

23 out of 128
In Indiana
511 out of 6,489
In America

Bluffton Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bluffton. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Bluffton is 97.

  • The Groceries index in Bluffton is 99.

  • The Health index in Bluffton is 95.

  • The Housing index in Bluffton is 58.

  • The Transportation index in Bluffton is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Bluffton is 103.

Living Expense Bluffton Indiana National Average
Overall 85 92 100
Services 97 95 100
Groceries 99 97 100
Health 95 94 100
Housing 58 73 100
Transportation 98 94 100
Utilities 103 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Bluffton Cost of Living Vs. IN

Bluffton, IN Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Indiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Bluffton is $181,707.

  • The Median Rent in Bluffton is $816.

  • The Median Income in Bluffton is $57,929.

  • The Home Value To Income in Bluffton is 3.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Bluffton is 0.17x.

Statistic Bluffton Indiana United States
Median Home Value $181,707 $251,301 $303,400
Median Rent $816 $1,020 $1,348
Median Income $57,929 $70,051 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.1x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.17x 0.21x
$181,707
Median Home Value
$816
Median Rent
$57,929
Median Income

Bluffton, IN Costs By Category

Detailed Bluffton Services Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Bluffton Indiana
Shampoo $1.32 $1.28
Movie $12.75 $12.13
Bowling $16.72 $18
Haircut $26.22 $24.26
Beauty Salon $33.78 $45.56

Detailed Bluffton Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Bluffton Indiana
Ground Beef $6.1 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.64 $1.57
Milk $4.74 $4.67
Potatoes $5.08 $4.93
Pizza $12.79 $12.09
Beer $10.06 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.63 $3.7

Detailed Bluffton Health Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Bluffton Indiana
Optometrist $104.3 $125.68
Doctor $119.61 $135.78
Dentist $110.0 $113.29

Detailed Bluffton Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Bluffton Indiana
Gasoline $3.35 $3.46
Tire Balancing $59.65 $59.92

Detailed Bluffton Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Bluffton Indiana
All Electricity $197.87 $193.99
Phone $192.69 $192.25

Bluffton SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
4
Affordability
9
Diversity
5
Safety
8
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bluffton

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bluffton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Auburn, IN has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Bluffton.

  • Celina, OH has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Bluffton.

  • Van Wert, OH has a cost of living index of 92, 1.1x Bluffton.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Bluffton
Auburn, IN 13,464 89 1.0x
Celina, OH 11,017 94 1.1x
Van Wert, OH 10,710 92 1.1x
Decatur, IN 9,769 87 1.0x
St. Marys, OH 8,319 94 1.1x
Union, KY 7,494 121 1.4x
Delphos, OH 7,063 90 1.1x
Union, OH 6,930 93 1.1x
Garrett, IN 6,540 86 1.0x

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