Muncie, IN Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Muncie. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Muncie compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Muncie, Indiana

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:

80 Cost of living index 0.8x lower vs US
#2 Cheapest in Indiana (of 129)
#33 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$151,291 Median home value
$904 Median rent
$44,471 Median income
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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 80, 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 90.

The standard of living in Muncie ranks as #2 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Muncie ranks as the #127 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.

For more reading on life in Muncie, check out:

Muncie Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana

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

  • The Services index in Muncie is 96.

  • The Groceries index in Muncie is 97.

  • The Health index in Muncie is 51.

  • The Housing index in Muncie is 95.

  • The Transportation index in Muncie is 92.

  • The Utilities index in Muncie is 93.

Living Expense Muncie Indiana National Average
Overall 80 90 100
Services 96 97 100
Groceries 97 95 100
Health 51 72 100
Housing 95 98 100
Transportation 92 94 100
Utilities 93 96 100

Muncie Cost Of Living Compared To Indiana Averages

Services
Muncie 96
Indiana avg 97
Groceries
Muncie 97
Indiana avg 95
Health
Muncie 51
Indiana avg 72
Housing
Muncie 95
Indiana avg 98
Transportation
Muncie 92
Indiana avg 94
Utilities
Muncie 93
Indiana avg 96

Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.

For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:

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Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Muncie, IN Housing Cost Breakdown

$151,291Median Home Value
$904Median Rent
$44,471Median Income

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 Muncie is $151,291.

  • The Median Rent in Muncie is $904.

  • The Median Income in Muncie is $44,471.

  • 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 $151,291 $254,121 $332,700
Median Rent $904 $1,062 $1,413
Median Income $44,471 $71,957 $80,734
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.5x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.24x 0.18x 0.21x

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

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

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 117, 1.5x Muncie.

  • Noblesville, IN has a cost of living index of 103, 1.3x Muncie.

  • Westfield, IN has a cost of living index of 112, 1.4x Muncie.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Muncie
Carmel, IN 101,651 117 1.5x
Noblesville, IN 73,362 103 1.3x
Westfield, IN 54,677 112 1.4x
Lawrence, IN 49,517 95 1.2x
Zionsville, IN 32,095 122 1.5x
Greenville, OH 12,741 83 1.0x
Middletown, KY 9,763 108 1.4x
Union, KY 7,642 116 1.4x
Union, OH 7,037 91 1.1x