South Bend, IN Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In South Bend, IN Summary
Cost of living in South Bend 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 South Bend 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 South Bend is 80, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in South Bend is 0.8x lower than the national average.
South Bend ranks as the #2 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.
South Bend ranks as the #112 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in South Bend is $185,238.
The median income in South Bend is $52,512.
Table Of Contents
South Bend's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in South Bend, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Bend has an overall cost of living index of 80, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, South Bend has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Indiana's index of 92.
The standard of living in South Bend ranks as #2 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies South Bend ranks as the #126 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in South Bend, check out:
In Indiana
In America
South Bend Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Bend. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Bend is 87.
The Groceries index in South Bend is 100.
The Health index in South Bend is 88.
The Housing index in South Bend is 59.
The Transportation index in South Bend is 91.
The Utilities index in South Bend is 100.
| Living Expense | South Bend | Indiana | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 80 | 92 | 100 | |
| Services | 87 | 95 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 88 | 94 | 100 | |
| Housing | 59 | 73 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 91 | 94 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 100 | 107 | 100 | |
South Bend, 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 South Bend is $185,238.
The Median Rent in South Bend is $1,000.
The Median Income in South Bend is $52,512.
The Home Value To Income in South Bend is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Bend is 0.23x.
| Statistic | South Bend | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $185,238 | $251,301 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,000 | $1,020 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $52,512 | $70,051 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.6x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
South Bend, IN Costs By Category
Detailed South Bend Services Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | South Bend | 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 South Bend Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | South Bend | 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 South Bend Health Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | South Bend | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $132.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $117.36 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $99.95 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Bend Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | South Bend | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $42.17 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Bend Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | South Bend | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $199.24 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.02 | $192.25 |
South Bend SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Bend
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Bend. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Elkhart, IN has a cost of living index of 81, 1.0x South Bend.
Mishawaka, IN has a cost of living index of 85, 1.1x South Bend.
Granger, IN has a cost of living index of 102, 1.3x South Bend.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Bend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart, IN | 53,726 | 81 | 1.0x |
| Mishawaka, IN | 50,907 | 85 | 1.1x |
| Granger, IN | 30,279 | 102 | 1.3x |
| Niles, MI | 11,838 | 78 | 1.0x |
| Notre Dame, IN | 6,754 | 89 | 1.1x |
| Dunlap, IN | 6,602 | 91 | 1.1x |
