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Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Cost of living in Porter County, IN

Part of the Chicago Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,080/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 174,150 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $985 32%
Federal tax $608 20%
Healthcare $480 16%
Transport $320 10%
Groceries $318 10%
Energy $199 6%
State tax $120 4%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Porter County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$860
per month
1 bedroom
$985
per month
2 bedroom
$1,197
per month
3 bedroom
$1,475
per month
4 bedroom
$1,587
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Porter County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$85,828
per year
Individual earnings
$47,204
per year
Per capita
$42,814
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Porter County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$261,900
Annual property tax
$2,172

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Porter 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 Porter County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
4.8%

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 Porter 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 Porter County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
28.3 min
Drive alone
81.8%
Public transit
0.6%
Work from home
8.7%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Porter County

What it costs to live in Porter County each month.

Single person
$3,080
per month
  • Rent $985
  • Energy $199
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $318
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $608
  • State tax $120
Couple
$4,600
per month
  • Rent $1,197
  • Energy $239
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $527
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,075
  • State tax $218
Family
$7,006
per month
  • Rent $1,475
  • Energy $298
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $800
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,075
  • State tax $218

Frequently asked questions about Porter County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Porter County?

In Porter County, IN, a one-bedroom apartment averages $985 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,197 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,475 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Porter County?

In Porter County, IN, the average household income is $85,828 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $47,204 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Porter County?

The estimated cost of living in Porter County, IN is approximately $3,080 per month for a single person, $4,600 for a couple, $7,006 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Porter County?

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

Is Porter County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Porter County, IN would need approximately $3,080 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $85,828 per year ($7,152 per month). Porter County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Porter County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Porter County, IN is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 4.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Porter County?

The average home value in Porter County, IN is $261,900, with average annual property taxes of $2,172, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Porter County compare to other areas?

You can compare Porter County, IN with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Porter County is in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-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 Porter 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