Before you decide to relocate to Indiana, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Indiana that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 122 places in Indiana with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Indiana for 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Indiana For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in Indiana? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Zionsville is the most expensive place to live in Indiana.
Peru (the cheapest place to live in Indiana) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Indiana and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Indiana For 2026
/10
Population: 32,095
Cost Of Living Index: 122
Median Income: $172,024
Average Home Price: $680,117
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Zionsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Zionsville is 122. The median income in Zionsville comes in at $172,024 and the average home value is $680,117 for 2026.
/10
Population: 101,651
Cost Of Living Index: 117
Median Income: $141,505
Average Home Price: $563,457
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Carmel: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Carmel is 117. The median income in Carmel comes in at $141,505 and the average home value is $563,457 for 2026.
/10
Population: 7,816
Cost Of Living Index: 116
Median Income: $135,870
Average Home Price: $476,915
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Winfield: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Winfield is 116. The median income in Winfield comes in at $135,870 and the average home value is $476,915 for 2026.
/10
Population: 54,677
Cost Of Living Index: 112
Median Income: $122,789
Average Home Price: $468,588
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Westfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Westfield is 112. The median income in Westfield comes in at $122,789 and the average home value is $468,588 for 2026.
/10
Population: 22,567
Cost Of Living Index: 110
Median Income: $131,467
Average Home Price: $450,805
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on St. John: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in St. John is 110. The median income in St. John comes in at $131,467 and the average home value is $450,805 for 2026.
/10
Population: 16,400
Cost Of Living Index: 107
Median Income: $107,159
Average Home Price: $355,530
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Dyer: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Dyer is 107. The median income in Dyer comes in at $107,159 and the average home value is $355,530 for 2026.
/10
Population: 10,752
Cost Of Living Index: 107
Median Income: $114,231
Average Home Price: $442,137
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Bargersville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bargersville is 107. The median income in Bargersville comes in at $114,231 and the average home value is $442,137 for 2026.
/10
Population: 45,159
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $34,891
Average Home Price: $363,860
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.4x
More on West Lafayette: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in West Lafayette is 104. The median income in West Lafayette comes in at $34,891 and the average home value is $363,860 for 2026.
/10
Population: 23,733
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $110,187
Average Home Price: $347,951
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Munster: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Munster is 104. The median income in Munster comes in at $110,187 and the average home value is $347,951 for 2026.
/10
Population: 80,049
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $50,465
Average Home Price: $313,959
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.2x
More on Bloomington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bloomington is 103. The median income in Bloomington comes in at $50,465 and the average home value is $313,959 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Hoosier State For 2026
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Indiana are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Indiana to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 122 places in Indiana that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Indiana according to the data is Zionsville. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in Indiana.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Indiana For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in Indiana that have the highest cost of living, with Zionsville ranking as the most expensive city in the Hoosier State.
The most expensive cities in Indiana are Zionsville, Carmel, Winfield, Westfield, St. John, Dyer, Bargersville, West Lafayette, Munster, and Bloomington.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Indiana according to the data:
- Peru
- New Castle
- Marion
For more Indiana reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Indiana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Indiana
- Most Dangerous Cities In Indiana
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Indiana
- Safest Places In Indiana
- Worst Places To Live In Indiana
Most Expensive Cities In Indiana
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zionsville | 122 | 32,095 | $172,024 | $680,117 | 4.0x |
| 2 | Carmel | 117 | 101,651 | $141,505 | $563,457 | 4.0x |
| 3 | Winfield | 116 | 7,816 | $135,870 | $476,915 | 3.5x |
| 4 | Westfield | 112 | 54,677 | $122,789 | $468,588 | 3.8x |
| 5 | St. John | 110 | 22,567 | $131,467 | $450,805 | 3.4x |
| 6 | Dyer | 107 | 16,400 | $107,159 | $355,530 | 3.3x |
| 7 | Bargersville | 107 | 10,752 | $114,231 | $442,137 | 3.9x |
| 8 | West Lafayette | 104 | 45,159 | $34,891 | $363,860 | 10.4x |
| 9 | Munster | 104 | 23,733 | $110,187 | $347,951 | 3.2x |
| 10 | Bloomington | 103 | 80,049 | $50,465 | $313,959 | 6.2x |
| 11 | Noblesville | 103 | 73,362 | $104,047 | $389,215 | 3.7x |
| 12 | Crown Point | 103 | 34,393 | $101,686 | $354,995 | 3.5x |
| 13 | Schererville | 103 | 29,701 | $89,466 | $352,735 | 3.9x |
| 14 | Avon | 103 | 23,437 | $98,486 | $352,859 | 3.6x |
| 15 | Brownsburg | 102 | 31,215 | $102,235 | $356,184 | 3.5x |
| 16 | McCordsville | 102 | 10,329 | $110,692 | $375,788 | 3.4x |
| 17 | Plainfield | 101 | 36,369 | $87,272 | $331,617 | 3.8x |
| 18 | Porter | 101 | 5,217 | $74,542 | $297,622 | 4.0x |
| 19 | Cedar Lake | 98 | 15,295 | $83,381 | $328,155 | 3.9x |
| 20 | Chesterton | 98 | 14,446 | $91,060 | $340,855 | 3.7x |
| 21 | Lowell | 98 | 11,073 | $84,024 | $329,211 | 3.9x |
| 22 | Cicero | 98 | 5,509 | $66,934 | $401,399 | 6.0x |
| 23 | Sellersburg | 97 | 10,137 | $72,179 | $296,867 | 4.1x |
| 24 | Cumberland | 97 | 6,267 | $87,364 | $289,408 | 3.3x |
| 25 | Greenwood | 96 | 66,029 | $83,608 | $326,491 | 3.9x |
| 26 | Columbus | 96 | 51,824 | $77,456 | $276,889 | 3.6x |
| 27 | Portage | 96 | 38,082 | $76,276 | $264,578 | 3.5x |
| 28 | Valparaiso | 96 | 34,733 | $69,872 | $355,844 | 5.1x |
| 29 | Franklin | 96 | 26,168 | $82,380 | $279,167 | 3.4x |
| 30 | Pendleton | 96 | 5,321 | $86,806 | $334,738 | 3.9x |
| 31 | Jeffersonville | 95 | 51,043 | $70,930 | $251,611 | 3.5x |
| 32 | Lawrence | 95 | 49,517 | $74,022 | $268,724 | 3.6x |
| 33 | Hobart | 95 | 29,558 | $75,160 | $238,195 | 3.2x |
| 34 | Griffith | 95 | 16,273 | $76,636 | $247,098 | 3.2x |
| 35 | Danville | 95 | 11,714 | $97,083 | $337,029 | 3.5x |
| 36 | Winona Lake | 95 | 5,080 | $82,188 | $297,378 | 3.6x |
| 37 | Indianapolis | 94 | 885,860 | $66,219 | $229,209 | 3.5x |
| 38 | Highland | 94 | 23,680 | $78,062 | $262,851 | 3.4x |
| 39 | Whiteland | 94 | 5,173 | $96,944 | $296,965 | 3.1x |
| 40 | Greenfield | 93 | 24,940 | $76,127 | $285,065 | 3.7x |
| 41 | Clarksville | 93 | 22,016 | $60,467 | $203,068 | 3.4x |
| 42 | Mooresville | 93 | 9,751 | $68,983 | $308,098 | 4.5x |
| 43 | Ellettsville | 93 | 6,698 | $90,213 | $274,445 | 3.0x |
| 44 | Merrillville | 92 | 36,476 | $67,587 | $240,328 | 3.6x |
| 45 | Speedway | 92 | 13,968 | $60,147 | $236,684 | 3.9x |
| 46 | Madison | 92 | 12,223 | $61,183 | $240,679 | 3.9x |
| 47 | Fort Wayne | 91 | 268,589 | $61,422 | $242,384 | 3.9x |
| 48 | Seymour | 91 | 22,371 | $64,426 | $230,828 | 3.6x |
| 49 | Charlestown | 91 | 8,294 | $77,288 | $302,063 | 3.9x |
| 50 | Batesville | 91 | 7,282 | $62,292 | $317,504 | 5.1x |
| 51 | Mount Vernon | 91 | 6,400 | $62,263 | $221,083 | 3.6x |
| 52 | New Albany | 90 | 37,581 | $54,710 | $235,058 | 4.3x |
| 53 | Jasper | 90 | 15,991 | $68,817 | $266,264 | 3.9x |
| 54 | Auburn | 90 | 13,565 | $68,750 | $275,151 | 4.0x |
| 55 | Greensburg | 90 | 12,229 | $62,655 | $261,665 | 4.2x |
| 56 | Greencastle | 90 | 9,864 | $55,565 | $243,386 | 4.4x |
| 57 | Angola | 90 | 9,408 | $64,540 | $302,980 | 4.7x |
| 58 | Westville | 90 | 5,279 | $60,794 | $357,284 | 5.9x |
| 59 | Lebanon | 89 | 17,812 | $65,154 | $299,031 | 4.6x |
| 60 | Warsaw | 89 | 16,768 | $61,035 | $271,690 | 4.5x |
| 61 | New Haven | 89 | 15,698 | $70,970 | $240,072 | 3.4x |
| 62 | Columbia City | 89 | 9,897 | $68,089 | $279,168 | 4.1x |
| 63 | Nappanee | 89 | 6,815 | $68,892 | $288,904 | 4.2x |
| 64 | New Whiteland | 89 | 5,704 | $89,918 | $228,046 | 2.5x |
| 65 | Evansville | 88 | 116,116 | $53,387 | $198,977 | 3.7x |
| 66 | Lafayette | 88 | 71,159 | $53,716 | $262,730 | 4.9x |
| 67 | Goshen | 88 | 34,420 | $59,184 | $275,119 | 4.6x |
| 68 | Michigan City | 88 | 31,814 | $53,089 | $187,488 | 3.5x |
| 69 | Bedford | 88 | 13,837 | $49,553 | $207,924 | 4.2x |
| 70 | Martinsville | 88 | 11,933 | $60,177 | $288,805 | 4.8x |
| 71 | Kendallville | 88 | 10,556 | $58,939 | $220,523 | 3.7x |
| 72 | Scottsburg | 88 | 7,362 | $38,578 | $187,043 | 4.8x |
| 73 | Tipton | 88 | 5,280 | $59,828 | $237,894 | 4.0x |
| 74 | Kokomo | 87 | 59,122 | $55,360 | $180,398 | 3.3x |
| 75 | Terre Haute | 87 | 58,427 | $43,126 | $155,801 | 3.6x |
| 76 | Washington | 87 | 12,367 | $50,331 | $147,888 | 2.9x |
| 77 | Decatur | 87 | 9,811 | $58,646 | $229,668 | 3.9x |
| 78 | Brazil | 87 | 7,831 | $52,055 | $188,386 | 3.6x |
| 79 | North Vernon | 87 | 7,078 | $51,429 | $212,243 | 4.1x |
| 80 | Rensselaer | 87 | 5,573 | $60,331 | $242,740 | 4.0x |
| 81 | Lawrenceburg | 87 | 5,179 | $51,250 | $248,400 | 4.8x |
| 82 | Hammond | 86 | 76,768 | $55,504 | $170,817 | 3.1x |
| 83 | Shelbyville | 86 | 20,296 | $55,602 | $222,048 | 4.0x |
| 84 | Crawfordsville | 86 | 16,491 | $55,033 | $219,772 | 4.0x |
| 85 | Frankfort | 86 | 15,917 | $57,412 | $209,855 | 3.7x |
| 86 | Beech Grove | 86 | 14,913 | $49,973 | $191,935 | 3.8x |
| 87 | Princeton | 86 | 8,372 | $57,618 | $187,282 | 3.3x |
| 88 | Garrett | 86 | 6,642 | $64,179 | $187,133 | 2.9x |
| 89 | Rochester | 86 | 6,215 | $57,008 | $210,468 | 3.7x |
| 90 | Monticello | 86 | 5,496 | $52,798 | $235,504 | 4.5x |
| 91 | South Bend | 85 | 103,085 | $55,786 | $192,339 | 3.4x |
| 92 | Mishawaka | 85 | 51,021 | $54,291 | $206,366 | 3.8x |
| 93 | Richmond | 85 | 35,581 | $45,399 | $156,510 | 3.4x |
| 94 | La Porte | 85 | 22,449 | $59,307 | $271,480 | 4.6x |
| 95 | Bluffton | 85 | 10,529 | $57,539 | $183,602 | 3.2x |
| 96 | Salem | 85 | 6,489 | $56,538 | $208,086 | 3.7x |
| 97 | Elkhart | 84 | 53,733 | $51,028 | $222,794 | 4.4x |
| 98 | East Chicago | 84 | 26,022 | $42,125 | $128,170 | 3.0x |
| 99 | Lake Station | 84 | 13,185 | $59,591 | $151,774 | 2.5x |
| 100 | Plymouth | 84 | 10,664 | $58,623 | $238,868 | 4.1x |