Cost of Living in Munster, IN

Population 23,733 · Indiana · Data vintage 2023

106
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Under 25,000 residents gives Munster a small-town character that shows up in every data point below — from the commute patterns to the rental inventory. A typical home runs $312,000.

Munster sits roughly 20 miles southeast of Chicago — close enough that regional housing and labor patterns are shaped largely by the larger market. Housing prices track closely with Chicago's $315,000 median.

Cost Overview

Housing 102
Rent 113

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Munster

The median home value in Munster is $312,000 — 2% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,480/month, 13% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $105,764/year is 42% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 5.3%, above the national average of 4.8%. Indiana's top state income tax rate is 3.0% and the combined sales tax is 7.0%. Overall, Munster has a cost of living index of 106 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 6% more expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$312,000
2% above avg
Zillow Home Value
$344,790
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,480/mo
13% above avg
Zillow Rent
$2,188/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.6x
Favors buying
Property Tax Rate
0.8%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$731
1 BR
$783
2 BR
$985
3 BR
$1,286
4 BR
$1,456
Owner-occupied 86.1%
Renter-occupied 13.9%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,480
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $2,094/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
30.9 min
14% above avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
11.6%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
77.5%
Carpooled
6.0%
Public transit
2.7%
Walked
1.1%
Bicycle
0.1%
Work from home
11.6%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax (flat) 3.0%
Total Sales Tax 7.0%
State rate 7.0%
Avg local rate 0.0%
Property Tax 0.8%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$105,764
42% above avg
Per Capita Income
$54,931
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
11% above avg
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Labor Force Participation
61.2%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 30.8%
Graduate degree 17.3%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 45.3
Male median age 44.6
Female median age 45.9

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 55 — Moderate
34.2%
Good air days/yr
215
Max AQI recorded
294
PM2.5 days
69
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

95%
4-Year Graduation Rate
20.5:1
Student-teacher ratio
5
Public schools
4,206
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Munster, IN?

Munster has a cost index of 106 (100 = national average). It is 6% above the national average.

What is average rent in Munster, IN?

The median gross rent in Munster is $1,480 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Munster?

The median home value in Munster is $312,000 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Munster?

The median household income in Munster is $105,764 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Munster, IN?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Munster is 7.0%. The Indiana state income tax top rate is 3.0%.

Is Munster, IN affordable?

Munster is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 106 (100 = US average).

Munster at a Glance

Population
23,733
Median Income
$105,764
Home Value
$312,000
Median Rent
$1,480/mo
Unemployment
5.3%
Sales Tax
7.0%
View all cities in Indiana →
🗺️ County data for Indiana

Explore county-level cost of living data

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