Gary, IN vs Terre Haute, IN

Terre Haute is moderately more affordable than Gary, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Gary scores 72 compared to 66 for Terre Haute, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gary can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gary is $975/month compared to $877/month in Terre Haute — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Terre Haute has cheaper rent, Gary actually has lower median home values ($85,300 vs $109,500).

Median household income in Gary is $37,380 compared to $41,960 in Terre Haute (-10.9%). Terre Haute offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Gary spend roughly 31.3% of their income on rent, more than the 25.1% in Terre Haute. The Terre Haute ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.