What is the cost of living in Michigan City, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Michigan City has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, Michigan City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Indiana's index of 90.
The standard of living in Michigan City ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Michigan City ranks as the #75 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in Michigan City, check out:
Michigan City Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Michigan City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Michigan City is 99.
The Groceries index in Michigan City is 97.
The Health index in Michigan City is 60.
The Housing index in Michigan City is 91.
The Transportation index in Michigan City is 100.
The Utilities index in Michigan City is 101.
| Living Expense | Michigan City | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 60 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 91 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 96 | 100 |
Michigan City 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 Michigan City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Michigan City, 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 Michigan City is $187,488.
The Median Rent in Michigan City is $967.
The Median Income in Michigan City is $53,089.
The Home Value To Income in Michigan City is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Michigan City is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Michigan City | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $187,488 | $254,121 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $967 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $53,089 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Michigan City, IN Costs By Category
Detailed Michigan City Services costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Michigan City | 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 Michigan City Groceries costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Michigan City | 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 Michigan City Health costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Michigan City | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $132.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $117.36 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $99.95 | $113.29 |
Detailed Michigan City Transportation costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Michigan City | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $42.17 | $59.92 |
Detailed Michigan City Utilities costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Michigan City | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $199.24 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.02 | $192.25 |
