What is the cost of living in Lake Station, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake Station has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, Lake Station has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Indiana's index of 90.
The standard of living in Lake Station ranks as #22 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Lake Station ranks as the #107 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in Lake Station, check out:
Lake Station Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake Station. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lake Station is 94.
The Groceries index in Lake Station is 99.
The Health index in Lake Station is 66.
The Housing index in Lake Station is 96.
The Transportation index in Lake Station is 94.
The Utilities index in Lake Station is 93.
| Living Expense | Lake Station | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 66 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 96 | 100 |
Lake Station 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 Lake Station Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lake Station, 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 Lake Station is $151,774.
The Median Rent in Lake Station is $1,124.
The Median Income in Lake Station is $59,591.
The Home Value To Income in Lake Station is 2.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake Station is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Lake Station | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $151,774 | $254,121 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,124 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $59,591 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.5x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Lake Station, IN Costs By Category
Detailed Lake Station Services costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Lake Station | 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 Lake Station Groceries costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Lake Station | 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 Lake Station Health costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Lake Station | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lake Station Transportation costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Lake Station | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lake Station Utilities costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Lake Station | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Lake Station SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lake Station
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lake Station. 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, 1.0x Lake Station.
Portage, IN has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Lake Station.
Merrillville, IN has a cost of living index of 92, 1.1x Lake Station.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lake Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary, IN | 68,113 | 81 | 1.0x |
| Portage, IN | 38,082 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Merrillville, IN | 36,476 | 92 | 1.1x |
| Crown Point, IN | 34,393 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Hobart, IN | 29,558 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Lansing, IL | 28,284 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Munster, IN | 23,733 | 104 | 1.2x |
| South Holland, IL | 20,911 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Dolton, IL | 20,825 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Dyer, IN | 16,400 | 107 | 1.3x |
