Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Bloomington, IN

Cost of living in Monroe County, IN

Part of the Bloomington Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,783/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 139,822 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,080 39%
Healthcare $480 17%
Federal tax $329 12%
Groceries $318 11%
Transport $250 9%
Energy $199 7%
State tax $77 3%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Monroe County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$958
per month
1 bedroom
$1,080
per month
2 bedroom
$1,223
per month
3 bedroom
$1,618
per month
4 bedroom
$1,926
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Monroe County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$63,372
per year
Individual earnings
$30,180
per year
Per capita
$36,836
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Monroe County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$261,700
Annual property tax
$1,837

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Monroe County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$142
per month · 15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas
$57
per month
Annual total
$2,388
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Monroe County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.3%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Monroe County

State and local tax rates for Indiana.

State income tax
3.0%
Flat rate
State sales tax
7.0%
Combined sales tax
7.0%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Monroe County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
19.8 min
Drive alone
65.8%
Public transit
2.1%
Work from home
14.4%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Monroe County

What it costs to live in Monroe County each month.

Single person
$2,783
per month
  • Rent $1,080
  • Energy $199
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $318
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $329
  • State tax $77
Couple
$4,131
per month
  • Rent $1,223
  • Energy $239
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $527
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $707
  • State tax $161
Family
$6,654
per month
  • Rent $1,618
  • Energy $298
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $800
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $707
  • State tax $161

Frequently asked questions about Monroe County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Monroe County?

In Monroe County, IN, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,080 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,223 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,618 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Monroe County?

In Monroe County, IN, the average household income is $63,372 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $30,180 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Monroe County?

The estimated cost of living in Monroe County, IN is approximately $2,783 per month for a single person, $4,131 for a couple, $6,654 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Monroe County?

The combined sales tax rate in Monroe County, IN is 7.00%, which includes the Indiana state rate of 7.00% plus an average local rate of 0.00%.

Is Monroe County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Monroe County, IN would need approximately $2,783 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $63,372 per year ($5,281 per month). Monroe County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Monroe County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Monroe County, IN is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.3% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Monroe County?

The average home value in Monroe County, IN is $261,700, with average annual property taxes of $1,837, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Monroe County compare to other areas?

You can compare Monroe County, IN with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Monroe County is in the Bloomington, IN metro area.

Other counties in Indiana

Browse the full list of counties in Indiana, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Indiana

Compare Monroe County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources