What is the cost of living in Merrillville, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Merrillville has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, Merrillville has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Indiana's index of 90.
The standard of living in Merrillville ranks as #80 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Merrillville ranks as the #49 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in Merrillville, check out:
Merrillville Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Merrillville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Merrillville is 97.
The Groceries index in Merrillville is 101.
The Health index in Merrillville is 90.
The Housing index in Merrillville is 96.
The Transportation index in Merrillville is 94.
The Utilities index in Merrillville is 90.
| Living Expense | Merrillville | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 90 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 90 | 96 | 100 |
Merrillville 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 Merrillville Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Merrillville, 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 Merrillville is $240,328.
The Median Rent in Merrillville is $1,282.
The Median Income in Merrillville is $67,587.
The Home Value To Income in Merrillville is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Merrillville is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Merrillville | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $240,328 | $254,121 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,282 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $67,587 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Merrillville, IN Costs By Category
Detailed Merrillville Services costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Merrillville | 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 Merrillville Groceries costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Merrillville | 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 Merrillville Health costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Merrillville | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Merrillville Transportation costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Merrillville | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Merrillville Utilities costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Merrillville | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Merrillville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Merrillville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Merrillville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Crown Point, IN has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Merrillville.
Schererville, IN has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Merrillville.
Hobart, IN has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Merrillville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Merrillville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Point, IN | 34,393 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Schererville, IN | 29,701 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Hobart, IN | 29,558 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Lansing, IL | 28,284 | 93 | 1.0x |
| St. John, IN | 22,567 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Park Forest, IL | 21,156 | 92 | 1.0x |
| South Holland, IL | 20,911 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Dolton, IL | 20,825 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Homewood, IL | 19,294 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Griffith, IN | 16,273 | 95 | 1.0x |
