What is the cost of living in Chesterton, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chesterton has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, Chesterton has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Indiana's index of 90.
The standard of living in Chesterton ranks as #107 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Chesterton ranks as the #22 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in Chesterton, check out:
Chesterton Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chesterton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chesterton is 95.
The Groceries index in Chesterton is 96.
The Health index in Chesterton is 108.
The Housing index in Chesterton is 98.
The Transportation index in Chesterton is 93.
The Utilities index in Chesterton is 97.
| Living Expense | Chesterton | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 108 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 96 | 100 |
Chesterton Cost Of Living Compared To Indiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Chesterton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chesterton, 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Chesterton is $340,855.
The Median Rent in Chesterton is $1,274.
The Median Income in Chesterton is $91,060.
The Home Value To Income in Chesterton is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chesterton is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Chesterton | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $340,855 | $254,121 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,274 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,060 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Chesterton, IN Costs By Category
Detailed Chesterton Services costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Chesterton | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $17.91 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.58 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.69 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.44 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chesterton Groceries costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Chesterton | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.28 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.87 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.9 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.41 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.0 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chesterton Health costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Chesterton | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chesterton Transportation costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Chesterton | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chesterton Utilities costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Chesterton | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Chesterton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chesterton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chesterton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Gary, IN has a cost of living index of 81, 0.8x Chesterton.
Portage, IN has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Chesterton.
Merrillville, IN has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x Chesterton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chesterton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary, IN | 68,113 | 81 | 0.8x |
| Portage, IN | 38,082 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Merrillville, IN | 36,476 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Valparaiso, IN | 34,733 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Crown Point, IN | 34,393 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Hobart, IN | 29,558 | 95 | 1.0x |
| La Porte, IN | 22,449 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Griffith, IN | 16,273 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Lake Station, IN | 13,185 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Lakes of the Four Seasons, IN | 7,402 | 109 | 1.1x |
