Elkhart, IN Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Elkhart, IN Summary

Cost of living in Elkhart 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 Elkhart 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 Elkhart is 81, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Elkhart ranks as the #7 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.

  • Elkhart ranks as the #158 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Elkhart is $217,569.

  • The median income in Elkhart is $47,885.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
81
Elkhart's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Elkhart, IN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Elkhart has an overall cost of living index of 81, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

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

The standard of living in Elkhart ranks as #7 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Elkhart ranks as the #121 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.

For more reading on life in Elkhart, check out:

7 out of 128
In Indiana
158 out of 6,489
In America

Elkhart Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana

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

  • The Services index in Elkhart is 87.

  • The Groceries index in Elkhart is 101.

  • The Health index in Elkhart is 89.

  • The Housing index in Elkhart is 62.

  • The Transportation index in Elkhart is 88.

  • The Utilities index in Elkhart is 102.

Living Expense Elkhart Indiana National Average
Overall 81 92 100
Services 87 95 100
Groceries 101 97 100
Health 89 94 100
Housing 62 73 100
Transportation 88 94 100
Utilities 102 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Elkhart Cost of Living Vs. IN

Elkhart, 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 Elkhart is $217,569.

  • The Median Rent in Elkhart is $981.

  • The Median Income in Elkhart is $47,885.

  • The Home Value To Income in Elkhart is 4.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Elkhart is 0.25x.

Statistic Elkhart Indiana United States
Median Home Value $217,569 $251,301 $303,400
Median Rent $981 $1,020 $1,348
Median Income $47,885 $70,051 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.5x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.25x 0.17x 0.21x
$217,569
Median Home Value
$981
Median Rent
$47,885
Median Income

Elkhart, IN Costs By Category

Detailed Elkhart Services Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Elkhart Indiana
Shampoo $1.34 $1.28
Movie $13.08 $12.13
Bowling $10.44 $18
Haircut $20.78 $24.26
Beauty Salon $52.07 $45.56

Detailed Elkhart Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Elkhart Indiana
Ground Beef $6.31 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.62 $1.57
Milk $4.83 $4.67
Potatoes $4.96 $4.93
Pizza $11.04 $12.09
Beer $9.65 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.66 $3.7

Detailed Elkhart Health Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Elkhart Indiana
Optometrist $132.22 $125.68
Doctor $117.36 $135.78
Dentist $99.95 $113.29

Detailed Elkhart Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Elkhart Indiana
Gasoline $3.38 $3.46
Tire Balancing $42.17 $59.92

Detailed Elkhart Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Elkhart Indiana
All Electricity $199.24 $193.99
Phone $190.02 $192.25

Elkhart SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
5
Affordability
7
Diversity
9.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
4
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Elkhart

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

  • Mishawaka, IN has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Elkhart.

  • Goshen, IN has a cost of living index of 88, 1.1x Elkhart.

  • Granger, IN has a cost of living index of 102, 1.3x Elkhart.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Elkhart
Mishawaka, IN 50,907 85 1.0x
Goshen, IN 34,374 88 1.1x
Granger, IN 30,279 102 1.3x
Niles, MI 11,838 78 1.0x
Nappanee, IN 7,040 87 1.1x
Dunlap, IN 6,602 91 1.1x

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