Cedar Lake, IN vs Valparaiso, IN

Cedar Lake, IN and Valparaiso, IN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.1% difference in their overall index. Cedar Lake scores 94 while Valparaiso scores 91 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cedar Lake is $1,209/month compared to $1,142/month in Valparaiso — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Valparaiso is more affordable at $250,500 median vs $259,900.

Median household income in Cedar Lake is $79,177 compared to $67,664 in Valparaiso (+17%). While Cedar Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cedar Lake spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, less than the 20.3% in Valparaiso.