West Lafayette, IN Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In West Lafayette, IN Summary
Cost of living in West Lafayette 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 West Lafayette 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 West Lafayette is 106, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in West Lafayette is 1.1x higher than the national average.
West Lafayette ranks as the #117 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.
West Lafayette ranks as the #3,278 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in West Lafayette is $363,081.
The median income in West Lafayette is $33,497.
Table Of Contents
West Lafayette's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in West Lafayette, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Lafayette has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, West Lafayette has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Indiana's index of 92.
The standard of living in West Lafayette ranks as #117 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies West Lafayette ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in West Lafayette, check out:
In Indiana
In America
West Lafayette Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Lafayette. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Lafayette is 97.
The Groceries index in West Lafayette is 96.
The Health index in West Lafayette is 106.
The Housing index in West Lafayette is 117.
The Transportation index in West Lafayette is 99.
The Utilities index in West Lafayette is 111.
| Living Expense | West Lafayette | Indiana | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 92 | 100 | |
| Services | 97 | 95 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 106 | 94 | 100 | |
| Housing | 117 | 73 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 99 | 94 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 111 | 107 | 100 | |
West Lafayette, 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 West Lafayette is $363,081.
The Median Rent in West Lafayette is $1,152.
The Median Income in West Lafayette is $33,497.
The Home Value To Income in West Lafayette is 10.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Lafayette is 0.41x.
| Statistic | West Lafayette | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $363,081 | $251,301 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,152 | $1,020 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $33,497 | $70,051 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.8x | 3.6x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.41x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
West Lafayette, IN Costs By Category
Detailed West Lafayette Services Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | West Lafayette | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.21 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.09 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.27 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.11 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $34.91 | $45.56 |
Detailed West Lafayette Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | West Lafayette | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.9 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.52 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.42 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.83 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed West Lafayette Health Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | West Lafayette | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $121.07 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $123.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $140.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Lafayette Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | West Lafayette | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.36 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Lafayette Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana
| Item | West Lafayette | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.79 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.17 | $192.25 |
West Lafayette SnackAbility
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Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Lafayette
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Lafayette. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lafayette, IN has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x West Lafayette.
Kokomo, IN has a cost of living index of 82, 0.8x West Lafayette.
Westfield, IN has a cost of living index of 114, 1.1x West Lafayette.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Lafayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, IN | 70,650 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Kokomo, IN | 59,375 | 82 | 0.8x |
| Westfield, IN | 51,109 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Zionsville, IN | 31,442 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Logansport, IN | 17,766 | 80 | 0.8x |
| Crawfordsville, IN | 16,408 | 87 | 0.8x |
| Frankfort, IN | 15,536 | 87 | 0.8x |
| Monticello, IN | 5,504 | 88 | 0.8x |
