Valparaiso, IN Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Valparaiso, IN Summary

Cost of living in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso is 105, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Valparaiso is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Valparaiso ranks as the #114 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.

  • Valparaiso ranks as the #3,177 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Valparaiso is $354,556.

  • The median income in Valparaiso is $67,664.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
105
Valparaiso's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Valparaiso, IN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Valparaiso has an overall cost of living index of 105, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Indiana, Valparaiso has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Indiana's index of 92.

The standard of living in Valparaiso ranks as #114 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Valparaiso ranks as the #14 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.

For more reading on life in Valparaiso, check out:

114 out of 128
In Indiana
3,177 out of 6,489
In America

Valparaiso Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana

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

  • The Services index in Valparaiso is 106.

  • The Groceries index in Valparaiso is 104.

  • The Health index in Valparaiso is 109.

  • The Housing index in Valparaiso is 100.

  • The Transportation index in Valparaiso is 105.

  • The Utilities index in Valparaiso is 88.

Living Expense Valparaiso Indiana National Average
Overall 105 92 100
Services 106 95 100
Groceries 104 97 100
Health 109 94 100
Housing 100 73 100
Transportation 105 94 100
Utilities 88 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Valparaiso Cost of Living Vs. IN

Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso is $354,556.

  • The Median Rent in Valparaiso is $1,142.

  • The Median Income in Valparaiso is $67,664.

  • The Home Value To Income in Valparaiso is 5.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Valparaiso is 0.2x.

Statistic Valparaiso Indiana United States
Median Home Value $354,556 $251,301 $303,400
Median Rent $1,142 $1,020 $1,348
Median Income $67,664 $70,051 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.2x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.2x 0.17x 0.21x
$354,556
Median Home Value
$1,142
Median Rent
$67,664
Median Income

Valparaiso, IN Costs By Category

Detailed Valparaiso Services Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Valparaiso Indiana
Shampoo $1.27 $1.28
Movie $17.91 $12.13
Bowling $24.58 $18
Haircut $33.69 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.44 $45.56

Detailed Valparaiso Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Valparaiso Indiana
Ground Beef $5.28 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.42 $1.57
Milk $4.87 $4.67
Potatoes $4.9 $4.93
Pizza $13.41 $12.09
Beer $10.0 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.75 $3.7

Detailed Valparaiso Health Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Valparaiso Indiana
Optometrist $118.27 $125.68
Doctor $167.67 $135.78
Dentist $128.22 $113.29

Detailed Valparaiso Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Valparaiso Indiana
Gasoline $3.56 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.87 $59.92

Detailed Valparaiso Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Valparaiso Indiana
All Electricity $148.58 $193.99
Phone $210.03 $192.25

Valparaiso SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8
Affordability
6
Diversity
7
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Valparaiso

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

  • Gary, IN has a cost of living index of 88, 0.8x Valparaiso.

  • Portage, IN has a cost of living index of 97, 0.9x Valparaiso.

  • Merrillville, IN has a cost of living index of 101, 1.0x Valparaiso.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Valparaiso
Gary, IN 68,604 88 0.8x
Portage, IN 37,951 97 0.9x
Merrillville, IN 36,343 101 1.0x
Crown Point, IN 34,042 98 0.9x
Hobart, IN 29,646 98 0.9x
La Porte, IN 22,125 83 0.8x
Griffith, IN 16,228 100 1.0x
Chesterton, IN 14,326 107 1.0x
Lake Station, IN 13,109 90 0.9x
Lakes of the Four Seasons, IN 7,338 112 1.1x

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