Muncie, IN Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Muncie, IN Summary

Cost of living in Muncie 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 Muncie 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 Muncie is 82, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Muncie ranks as the #12 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.

  • Muncie ranks as the #221 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Muncie is $148,261.

  • The median income in Muncie is $43,395.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
82
Muncie's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Muncie, IN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Muncie has an overall cost of living index of 82, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

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

The standard of living in Muncie ranks as #12 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Muncie ranks as the #116 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.

For more reading on life in Muncie, check out:

12 out of 128
In Indiana
221 out of 6,489
In America

Muncie Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana

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

  • The Services index in Muncie is 97.

  • The Groceries index in Muncie is 96.

  • The Health index in Muncie is 96.

  • The Housing index in Muncie is 53.

  • The Transportation index in Muncie is 96.

  • The Utilities index in Muncie is 112.

Living Expense Muncie Indiana National Average
Overall 82 92 100
Services 97 95 100
Groceries 96 97 100
Health 96 94 100
Housing 53 73 100
Transportation 96 94 100
Utilities 112 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Muncie Cost of Living Vs. IN

Muncie, 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 Muncie is $148,261.

  • The Median Rent in Muncie is $867.

  • The Median Income in Muncie is $43,395.

  • The Home Value To Income in Muncie is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Muncie is 0.24x.

Statistic Muncie Indiana United States
Median Home Value $148,261 $251,301 $303,400
Median Rent $867 $1,020 $1,348
Median Income $43,395 $70,051 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.24x 0.17x 0.21x
$148,261
Median Home Value
$867
Median Rent
$43,395
Median Income

Muncie, IN Costs By Category

Detailed Muncie Services Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Muncie Indiana
Shampoo $1.3 $1.28
Movie $11.69 $12.13
Bowling $11.24 $18
Haircut $16.5 $24.26
Beauty Salon $30.94 $45.56

Detailed Muncie Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Muncie Indiana
Ground Beef $5.74 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.39 $1.57
Milk $4.59 $4.67
Potatoes $4.88 $4.93
Pizza $12.18 $12.09
Beer $9.64 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.69 $3.7

Detailed Muncie Health Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Muncie Indiana
Optometrist $138.77 $125.68
Doctor $101.43 $135.78
Dentist $122.83 $113.29

Detailed Muncie Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Muncie Indiana
Gasoline $3.51 $3.46
Tire Balancing $47.59 $59.92

Detailed Muncie Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Muncie Indiana
All Electricity $236.28 $193.99
Phone $189.86 $192.25

Muncie SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
4
Affordability
7
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
7
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Muncie

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

  • Carmel, IN has a cost of living index of 119, 1.5x Muncie.

  • Noblesville, IN has a cost of living index of 104, 1.3x Muncie.

  • Westfield, IN has a cost of living index of 114, 1.4x Muncie.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Muncie
Carmel, IN 100,501 119 1.5x
Noblesville, IN 71,940 104 1.3x
Westfield, IN 51,109 114 1.4x
Lawrence, IN 49,284 96 1.2x
Zionsville, IN 31,442 127 1.5x
Greenville, OH 12,748 83 1.0x
Middletown, KY 9,622 105 1.3x
Union, KY 7,494 121 1.5x
Union, OH 6,930 93 1.1x

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