B+
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
39%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index St. John Indiana National
Cost of living10890100
Goods & Services9495100
Groceries10099100
Health care9999100
Housing13972100
Transportation97101100
Utilities9295100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in St. John, IN

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in St. John? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in St. John stands at 108, making it 8% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in St. John is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the St. John cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 38.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is St. John Affordable?

Is St. John affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take St. John, for instance, where the median home price falls 55.5% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 0.6% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with St. John flaunting a median household income of $156,293, 92.2% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in St. John?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In St. John, the utilities index registers at 7.9% lower than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In St. John, the transportation index is 3.3% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In St. John, healthcare costs are 0.7% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in St. John, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in St. John is 21% higher than the Indiana average
  • The cost of living in St. John is 8% higher than the national average
  • St. John housing is 39% higher than the national average
  • Indiana general sales tax is 37% higher than the national average
  • Indiana state income tax is 21% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around St. John

See all the best places to live around St. John

Compare St. John, IN Cost of Living

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      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$153,690$12,808$3,586$4,611
      Renters$129,273$10,773$3,016$3,879
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in St. John, IN, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In St. John, homeowners have a median income of $153,690. Using that number, a maximum of $3,586 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $129,273, which means there is a maximum of $3,016 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Indiana Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Indiana 7% 7%

      Indiana Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Indiana 3.15% 3.15%

      Goods & Services

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.44$27.6211.5%
      Beauty Salon $35.75$51.1130.0%
      Toothpaste $4.23$4.093.4%
      Shampoo $1.60$1.543.8%
      Movie $9.03$12.8829.9%
      Yoga $17.53$19.6610.8%

      Groceries

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.56$7.701.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.53$1.668.0%
      Milk $4.97$4.735.0%
      Potatoes $5.55$5.265.6%
      Pizza $14.46$12.7613.3%
      Beer $10.79$10.552.3%

      Health Care

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $153.09$140.069.3%
      Doctor $131.61$153.8214.4%
      Dentist $128.43$123.154.3%
      Ibuprofen $11.43$11.732.6%
      Lipitor $23.40$23.610.9%

      Housing

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      Home Price $507,909.00$326,622.0055.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,489.74$2,480.2539.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,436.00$1,444.000.6%

      Transportation

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.90$3.065.1%
      Tire Balancing $66.09$65.211.4%

      Utilities

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $188.33$220.1214.4%
      Phone $201.97$195.713.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Ford Heights, IL2,8018712.5%
      East Chicago, IN28,8358910.8%
      Gary, IN77,1519010.4%
      Phoenix, IL1,4509010.0%
      Dixmoor, IL3,663918.7%
      St. John, IN18,8721088.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      White Oak, OH18,862954.6%
      Oak Bay, BC18,885n/a 
      San Carlos Park, FL18,85411110.8%
      Rutherford, NJ18,89114242.2%
      Maumelle, AR18,8981054.5%
      St. John, IN18,8721088.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.