C+
7%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
36%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; 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 living10790100
Goods & Services9694100
Groceries9798100
Health care9096100
Housing13672100
Transportation9595100
Utilities90107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in St. John, IN

Knowing the cost of living in St. John allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in St. John stands at 107, marking it 7% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in St. John closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of St. John can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

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 36.2% 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? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in St. John, the median home price is 51.4% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 0.6% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with St. John boasting a median household income of $103,851, 87.7% higher than the national average.

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

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In St. John, the transportation index is 5.2% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The St. John cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in St. John Area
Search Homes for Sale in St. John, IN

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in St. John is 20% higher than the Indiana average
  • The cost of living in St. John is 7% higher than the national average
  • St. John housing is 36% 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

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in St. John?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in St. John?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all St. John poll results

      Salary Calculator

      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$105,110$8,759$2,452$3,154
      Renters$85,341$7,112$1,991$2,560
      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 $105,110. Using that number, a maximum of $2,452 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $85,341, which means there is a maximum of $1,991 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 $23.56$24.262.9%
      Beauty Salon $42.28$45.567.2%
      Toothpaste $3.77$3.701.9%
      Shampoo $1.46$1.2813.8%
      Movie $8.75$12.1327.9%
      Bowling $18.33$18.001.9%

      Groceries

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.31$5.848.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.4%
      Milk $4.63$4.670.8%
      Potatoes $4.96$4.930.5%
      Pizza $13.80$12.0914.1%
      Beer $10.43$10.410.2%

      Health Care

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $93.66$125.6825.5%
      Doctor $120.22$135.7811.5%
      Dentist $113.44$113.290.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.48$10.651.7%
      Lipitor $365.52$468.6022.0%

      Housing

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      Home Price $279,700.00$184,700.0051.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,536.70$2,346.6934.5%
      Apartment Rent $955.00$949.000.6%

      Transportation

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.17$3.468.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.36$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item St. John National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $157.45$193.9918.8%
      Phone $197.49$192.252.7%
      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, IL2,7058614.2%
      East Chicago, IN28,0448712.7%
      Gary, IN75,4868812.0%
      Phoenix, IL1,4028812.0%
      Dixmoor, IL3,5709010.2%
      St. John, IN18,3821077.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Rutherford, NJ18,37614342.6%
      Cameron Park, CA18,37014544.8%
      Hopkins, MN18,4001066.1%
      Laurel, MS18,4038415.9%
      White Oak, OH18,351963.8%
      St. John, IN18,3821077.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.