What is the cost of living in East Chicago, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, East Chicago has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, East Chicago has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Indiana's index of 90.
The standard of living in East Chicago ranks as #22 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies East Chicago ranks as the #107 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in East Chicago, check out:
East Chicago Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in East Chicago. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in East Chicago is 98.
The Groceries index in East Chicago is 98.
The Health index in East Chicago is 51.
The Housing index in East Chicago is 94.
The Transportation index in East Chicago is 95.
The Utilities index in East Chicago is 90.
| Living Expense | East Chicago | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 51 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 90 | 96 | 100 |
East Chicago 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 East Chicago Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
East Chicago, 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 East Chicago is $128,170.
The Median Rent in East Chicago is $854.
The Median Income in East Chicago is $42,125.
The Home Value To Income in East Chicago is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in East Chicago is 0.24x.
| Statistic | East Chicago | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $128,170 | $254,121 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $854 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $42,125 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.0x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
East Chicago, IN Costs By Category
Detailed East Chicago Services costs vs. Indiana
| Item | East Chicago | 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 East Chicago Groceries costs vs. Indiana
| Item | East Chicago | 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 East Chicago Health costs vs. Indiana
| Item | East Chicago | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed East Chicago Transportation costs vs. Indiana
| Item | East Chicago | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed East Chicago Utilities costs vs. Indiana
| Item | East Chicago | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
East Chicago SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around East Chicago
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around East Chicago. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hammond, IN has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x East Chicago.
Gary, IN has a cost of living index of 81, 1.0x East Chicago.
Tinley Park, IL has a cost of living index of 111, 1.3x East Chicago.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. East Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond, IN | 76,768 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Gary, IN | 68,113 | 81 | 1.0x |
| Tinley Park, IL | 54,842 | 111 | 1.3x |
| Lansing, IL | 28,284 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Oak Forest, IL | 26,805 | 106 | 1.3x |
| Munster, IN | 23,733 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Dolton, IL | 20,825 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Evergreen Park, IL | 19,420 | 107 | 1.3x |
| Homewood, IL | 19,294 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Matteson, IL | 18,645 | 102 | 1.2x |
