Gary, IN Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Gary, IN Summary

Cost of living in Gary 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 Gary 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 Gary is 88, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Gary is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Gary ranks as the #48 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.

  • Gary ranks as the #912 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Gary is $83,351.

  • The median income in Gary is $37,380.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
88
Gary's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Gary, IN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gary has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Indiana, Gary has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Indiana's index of 92.

The standard of living in Gary ranks as #48 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Gary ranks as the #80 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.

For more reading on life in Gary, check out:

48 out of 128
In Indiana
912 out of 6,489
In America

Gary Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana

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

  • The Services index in Gary is 105.

  • The Groceries index in Gary is 105.

  • The Health index in Gary is 110.

  • The Housing index in Gary is 51.

  • The Transportation index in Gary is 109.

  • The Utilities index in Gary is 90.

Living Expense Gary Indiana National Average
Overall 88 92 100
Services 105 95 100
Groceries 105 97 100
Health 110 94 100
Housing 51 73 100
Transportation 109 94 100
Utilities 90 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Gary Cost of Living Vs. IN

Gary, 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 Gary is $83,351.

  • The Median Rent in Gary is $975.

  • The Median Income in Gary is $37,380.

  • The Home Value To Income in Gary is 2.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Gary is 0.31x.

Statistic Gary Indiana United States
Median Home Value $83,351 $251,301 $303,400
Median Rent $975 $1,020 $1,348
Median Income $37,380 $70,051 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.2x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.31x 0.17x 0.21x
$83,351
Median Home Value
$975
Median Rent
$37,380
Median Income

Gary, IN Costs By Category

Detailed Gary Services Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Gary 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 Gary Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Gary 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 Gary Health Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Gary Indiana
Optometrist $118.27 $125.68
Doctor $167.67 $135.78
Dentist $128.22 $113.29

Detailed Gary Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Gary Indiana
Gasoline $3.56 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.87 $59.92

Detailed Gary Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Gary Indiana
All Electricity $148.58 $193.99
Phone $210.03 $192.25

Gary SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
5
Affordability
6
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8.5
Education
5
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gary

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gary. 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 93, 1.1x Gary.

  • Portage, IN has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Gary.

  • Merrillville, IN has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Gary.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Gary
Hammond, IN 77,098 93 1.1x
Portage, IN 37,951 97 1.1x
Merrillville, IN 36,343 101 1.1x
Hobart, IN 29,646 98 1.1x
Lansing, IL 28,415 99 1.1x
East Chicago, IN 26,158 89 1.0x
South Holland, IL 21,016 106 1.2x
Homewood, IL 19,471 102 1.2x
Country Club Hills, IL 16,419 98 1.1x
Griffith, IN 16,228 100 1.1x

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