Cost of living in Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem is 86, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Salem is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Salem ranks as the #29 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.
Salem ranks as the #639 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Salem is $205,123.
The median income in Salem is $51,786.
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salem has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, Salem has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Indiana's index of 92.
The standard of living in Salem ranks as #29 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #99 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in Salem, check out:
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salem is 101.
The Groceries index in Salem is 99.
The Health index in Salem is 96.
The Housing index in Salem is 56.
The Transportation index in Salem is 98.
The Utilities index in Salem is 105.
| Living Expense | Salem | Indiana | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 92 | 100 | |
| Services | 101 | 95 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 99 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 96 | 94 | 100 | |
| Housing | 56 | 73 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 98 | 94 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 105 | 107 | 100 | |
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 Salem is $205,123.
The Median Rent in Salem is $736.
The Median Income in Salem is $51,786.
The Home Value To Income in Salem is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.17x.
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Salem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Jeffersontown, KY has a cost of living index of 101, 1.2x Salem.
St. Matthews, KY has a cost of living index of 110, 1.3x Salem.
Middletown, KY has a cost of living index of 105, 1.2x Salem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffersontown, KY | 28,988 | 101 | 1.2x |
| St. Matthews, KY | 17,491 | 110 | 1.3x |
| Middletown, KY | 9,622 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Crestwood, KY | 6,275 | 110 | 1.3x |
| Douglass Hills, KY | 5,437 | 113 | 1.3x |