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 104, which is 1.0x 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 90.
The standard of living in West Lafayette ranks as #119 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies West Lafayette ranks as the #10 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in West Lafayette, check out:
West Lafayette Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Lafayette. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Lafayette is 95.
The Groceries index in West Lafayette is 96.
The Health index in West Lafayette is 120.
The Housing index in West Lafayette is 94.
The Transportation index in West Lafayette is 96.
The Utilities index in West Lafayette is 97.
| Living Expense | West Lafayette | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 120 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 96 | 100 |
West Lafayette Cost Of Living Compared To Indiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in West Lafayette Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in West Lafayette is $363,860.
The Median Rent in West Lafayette is $1,225.
The Median Income in West Lafayette is $34,891.
The Home Value To Income in West Lafayette is 10.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Lafayette is 0.42x.
| Statistic | West Lafayette | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $363,860 | $254,121 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,225 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $34,891 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.4x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.42x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
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
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 88, 0.8x West Lafayette.
Kokomo, IN has a cost of living index of 87, 0.8x West Lafayette.
Westfield, IN has a cost of living index of 112, 1.1x West Lafayette.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Lafayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, IN | 71,159 | 88 | 0.8x |
| Kokomo, IN | 59,122 | 87 | 0.8x |
| Westfield, IN | 54,677 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Zionsville, IN | 32,095 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Logansport, IN | 17,790 | 81 | 0.8x |
| Crawfordsville, IN | 16,491 | 86 | 0.8x |
| Frankfort, IN | 15,917 | 86 | 0.8x |
| Monticello, IN | 5,496 | 86 | 0.8x |
