{"id":3481,"date":"2025-08-09T15:28:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T19:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.dev.www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/?page_id=3481"},"modified":"2026-05-19T10:21:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T14:21:00","slug":"cost-of-living","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/admitted-students\/cost-of-living\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost of Living"},"content":{"rendered":"<div  class=\"purdue-home-cta-banner purdue-home-teritary-hero \">\n        <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-large has-padding-bottom-large \">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <h1 class=\"second-level-page-heading purdue-home-teritary-hero__header\">Cost of Living<\/h1>\n            <div class=\"purdue-home-teritary-hero__content\">\n                \n\n<p>Admitted Student Resources<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"section has-padding-bottom-large  page-layout-wide\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                \n<div  class=\"section \">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-full-tablet page-layout-main is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Cost of Living?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Would you like to know the cost of living in various areas across the United States to help determine if you can afford to live in a certain area? A cost of living index is a useful comparison tool in evaluating the cost of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services in a specified location.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of living index measures relative price levels for consumer goods and services necessary to maintain a standard of living in a specific area. The average index for all locations in the United States is equal to 100. Each specific location is represented as a percentage of the average index of 100.  Visit the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bestplaces.net\/cost-of-living\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cost of Living Calculator<\/a> to view cost of living information by city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Information in our cost of living map and table was compiled using:&nbsp;<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bestplaces.net\/cost-of-living\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.bestplaces.net<\/a>&nbsp;<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/rental-market\/rent-around-universities\/#fulltable\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.rentcafe.com<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-full-tablet page-layout-main is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-none-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div id=\"towns\" class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder has-no-topborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-b7e3a0cb-ead7-40fe-aa0d-39812747e89f\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-b7e3a0cb-ead7-40fe-aa0d-39812747e89f\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><br>Cost of Living Comparisons by Academic Institution<br><br><\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-b7e3a0cb-ead7-40fe-aa0d-39812747e89f\" hidden aria-hidden=\n                \"true\">\n                    \n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>School<\/th><th>Location<\/th><th>Cost of Living Index*<\/th><th>Avg apartment rent**<\/th><th>Housing Index<\/th><th>Grocery Index<\/th><th>Utilities Index<\/th><th>Sales Tax<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Purdue University<\/td><td>West Lafayette, IN <\/td><td>83.5<\/td><td>$1,511<\/td><td>78.8<\/td><td>95.25<\/td><td>103.6<\/td><td>7.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Purdue University<\/td><td>Indianapolis, IN<\/td><td>85.7<\/td><td>$1,271<\/td><td>62.7<\/td><td>93.6<\/td><td>90.2<\/td><td>7.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Illinois<\/td><td>Urbana-Champaign ++<\/td><td>81.1<\/td><td>$1,592<\/td><td>52.4<\/td><td>94.7<\/td><td>95.7<\/td><td>9%\/9.25%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Indiana University<\/td><td>Bloomington, IN<\/td><td>88.8<\/td><td>$1,703<\/td><td>88<\/td><td>97<\/td><td>97.2<\/td><td>7.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Wisconsin<\/td><td>Madison, WI<\/td><td>103.4<\/td><td>$1,824<\/td><td>112.7<\/td><td>97.9<\/td><td>107.5<\/td><td>5.50%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Michigan<\/td><td>Ann Arbor, MI<\/td><td>105.5<\/td><td>$2,026<\/td><td>143.4<\/td><td>102.6<\/td><td>99.3<\/td><td>6.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The Ohio State University<\/td><td>Columbus, OH<\/td><td>91.4<\/td><td>$1,341<\/td><td>70.6<\/td><td>98.8<\/td><td>102.1<\/td><td>8.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Minnesota<\/td><td>Minneapolis, MN<\/td><td>107.2<\/td><td>$1,696<\/td><td>113.4<\/td><td>101.2<\/td><td>99.7<\/td><td>9.03%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Massachusetts Institute of Tech.<\/td><td>Cambridge, MA<\/td><td>144.7<\/td><td>$3,643<\/td><td>321.4<\/td><td>115.5<\/td><td>117.8<\/td><td>6.25%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Georgia Institute of Tech.<\/td><td>Atlanta, GA<\/td><td>113.3<\/td><td>$1,776<\/td><td>114.6<\/td><td>98.8<\/td><td>103.6<\/td><td>8.90%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Texas<\/td><td>Austin, TX<\/td><td>129.1<\/td><td>$1,636<\/td><td>189<\/td><td>96.7<\/td><td>99.1<\/td><td>8.25%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of California-Berkeley<\/td><td>Berkeley, CA<\/td><td>195.5<\/td><td>$3,403<\/td><td>521<\/td><td>114<\/td><td>91.3<\/td><td>10.25%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Iowa<\/td><td>Iowa City, IA<\/td><td>89.6<\/td><td>$1,493<\/td><td>78.7<\/td><td>99.7<\/td><td>93.9<\/td><td>6.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Maryland<\/td><td>College Park, MD<\/td><td>120.8<\/td><td>$2,573<\/td><td>136<\/td><td>108<\/td><td>109.4<\/td><td>6.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Michigan State University<\/td><td>East Lansing, MI<\/td><td>83.6<\/td><td>$1,801<\/td><td>84.8<\/td><td>95.6<\/td><td>97.2<\/td><td>6.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Nebraska<\/td><td>Lincoln, NE<\/td><td>92.6<\/td><td>$1,335<\/td><td>81.7<\/td><td>97.4<\/td><td>92.3<\/td><td>7.25%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Northwestern University<\/td><td>Evanston, IL<\/td><td>105.7<\/td><td>$2,606<\/td><td>155.4<\/td><td>100.9<\/td><td>95<\/td><td>10.25%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Rutgers University<\/td><td>New Brunswick, NJ<\/td><td>124.7<\/td><td>$2,529<\/td><td>113<\/td><td>103.5<\/td><td>114.4<\/td><td>6.63%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Penn State University<\/td><td>State College, PA<\/td><td>95.4<\/td><td>$2,144<\/td><td>112.4<\/td><td>107.8<\/td><td>90.4<\/td><td>6.00%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stanford University<\/td><td>Palo Alto, CA<\/td><td>231<\/td><td>$3,082<\/td><td>1139.8<\/td><td>124.4<\/td><td>89.9<\/td><td>9.75%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Showing 1 to 20 of 20 entries<br>* US national average is 100%.&nbsp;<br>**&nbsp;The data on average rents comes directly from competitively-rented (market-rate) large-scale multifamily properties (50+ units in size), in over 130 markets across the U.S. Apartment rent data was provided by Yardi Matrix, a RENTCaf\u00e9 sister company.<br>+ Figures are averaged from both West Lafayette &amp; Lafayette.&nbsp;<br>++ Figures are averaged from both Urbana &amp; Champaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Updated May 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sources:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bestplaces.net\/cost-of-living\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bestplaces.net<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/apartments-for-rent\/us\/in\/west-lafayette\/?zoom=13&amp;viewport=-86.95470135498047%2C40.377142258069476%2C-86.84483807373047%2C40.473190438314674&amp;geopicker_type=radius&amp;geopicker_output=-86.90509121704102%2C40.429169047166226%2C3211#fulltable\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RENTCaf\u00e9<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:80px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack has-gray-background nogaptopstack\">\n    <div class=\"section has-padding-top-large has-padding-bottom-large\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n                            <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__intro\">\n                                            <h2 class=\"purdue-home-intro-text__header header-font-united purdue-home-cta-stack__header\">More in Admissions<\/h2>\n                                                                <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__content\">\n                            \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n                        <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__cards\">\n                    <div class=\"columns\">\n                                                    <div class=\"column\">\n                                                                <a class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--horizontal\" href=\"\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/preparing-for-graduate-studies\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/08\/2024_PI_RJR9588.jpg\" \/>\n                                    <\/figure>\n                                    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n                                        <h3 class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-title\">Prepare for Graduate Studies<\/h3>\n                                        <p class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-subtext\"><\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"column\">\n                                                                <a class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--horizontal\" href=\"\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/admission-requirements\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/08\/2023_JU28960.jpg\" \/>\n                                    <\/figure>\n                                    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n                                        <h3 class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-title\">Admission Requirements<\/h3>\n                                        <p class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-subtext\"><\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"column\">\n                                                                <a class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--horizontal\" href=\"\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/how-to-apply\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/2025_KAL_4212-1.jpg\" \/>\n                                    <\/figure>\n                                    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n                                        <h3 class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-title\">How to Apply<\/h3>\n                                        <p class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-subtext\"><\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"column\">\n                                                                <a class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--horizontal\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/treasurer\/finance\/bursar-office\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/DW542074.jpg\" \/>\n                                    <\/figure>\n                                    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n                                        <h3 class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-title\">Tuition &amp; Fees<\/h3>\n                                        <p class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-subtext\"><\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"column\">\n                                                                <a class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--horizontal\" href=\"\/academics\/ogsps\/fellowship\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/2023_RR24460.jpg\" \/>\n                                    <\/figure>\n                                    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n                                        <h3 class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-title\">Funding Opportunities<\/h3>\n                                        <p class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-subtext\"><\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"column\">\n                                                                <a class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--horizontal\" href=\"\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/faq\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/2024_PI_RJR9307.jpg\" \/>\n                                    <\/figure>\n                                    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n                                        <h3 class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-title\">FAQ<\/h3>\n                                        <p class=\"purdue-home-cta-stack__card-subtext\"><\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"section has-gray-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-large  page-layout-wide\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Contact Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Office of Graduate Admissions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Young Hall, Room 170<br>155 S. Grant Street<br>West Lafayette, IN 47907-2114<br>Phone: (765) 494-2600<br>Email:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:gradinfo@purdue.edu\">gradinfo@purdue.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"parent":56,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3481","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3481"}],"version-history":[{"count":142,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8622,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3481\/revisions\/8622"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}