Cost of Living in South Bend, IN
| Cost of Living in South Bend, IN | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 2% higher | 20% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 3% lower | 7% lower |
| Food | 2% higher | 0% |
| Healthcare | 2% lower | 2% lower |
| Transportation | 4% lower | 4% lower |
| Goods & Services | 2% lower | 7% lower |
The cost of living in South Bend, IN is 1% lower than the state average and 9% lower than the national average. South Bend, IN housing is 20% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 7% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 0% in South Bend, IN than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 7% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 2% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 7% cheaper in South Bend, IN.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in South Bend is $1,389, while home prices circle around $370,408.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In South Bend, energy bills cost around $188.25 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $5.01 in South Bend, a dozen eggs go for around $4.19 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.93.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In South Bend, an optometry check-up costs around $133.79, while a dentist appointment is priced $113.67 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.36 in South Bend, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $50.32.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $30.32 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $29.67.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in South Bend, you should budget around $12.84 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $25.00, while dry cleaning costs about $19.03.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In South Bend, the median household income is $52,512.