Merrillville, IN vs New Castle, IN

The cost of living difference between Merrillville, IN and New Castle, IN is dramatic. New Castle is 41.4% cheaper than Merrillville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Merrillville has a cost index of 91 while New Castle sits at 65, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Merrillville is $1,304/month compared to $797/month in New Castle — a 64% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Castle is more affordable at $95,100 median vs $194,000.

Median household income in Merrillville is $64,791 compared to $48,977 in New Castle (+32.3%). The higher salaries in Merrillville partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Merrillville spend roughly 24.2% of their income on rent, more than the 19.5% in New Castle.