Are you considering a move to South Bend, Indiana, United States, and wondering about the cost of living? South Bend, Indiana is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in South Bend, Indiana and help you understand whether $2272 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $3169.0.
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Restaurants |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
15.0 $ |
|
|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
75.0 $ |
|
|
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
9.14 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
6.0 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
8.0 $ |
|
|
Cappuccino (regular) |
4.2 $ |
|
|
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1.91 $ |
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Water (12 oz small bottle) |
1.12 $ |
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Markets |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
0.79 $ |
|
|
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
2.59 $ |
|
|
Rice (white), (1 lb) |
2.54 $ |
|
|
Eggs (regular) (12) |
1.8 $ |
|
|
Local Cheese (1 lb) |
8.27 $ |
|
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Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
7.72 $ |
|
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Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
9.48 $ |
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Apples (1 lb) |
4.41 $ |
|
|
Banana (1 lb) |
1.26 $ |
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Oranges (1 lb) |
2.43 $ |
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Tomato (1 lb) |
3.13 $ |
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|
Potato (1 lb) |
1.76 $ |
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Onion (1 lb) |
1.12 $ |
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Lettuce (1 head) |
1.2 $ |
|
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Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
0.99 $ |
|
|
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
10.5 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
2.11 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.72 $ |
|
|
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
6.5 $ |
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Transportation |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
1.25 $ |
|
|
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
35.0 $ |
|
|
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
2.0 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1.71 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
-- |
|
|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
0.97 $ |
|
|
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
-- |
|
|
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
28000.0 $ |
|
|
Utilities (Monthly) |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
198.27 $ |
|
|
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) |
-- |
|
|
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
55.0 $ |
|
|
Sports And Leisure |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
-- |
|
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Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
-- |
|
|
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
12.0 $ |
|
|
Childcare |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
1083.33 $ |
|
|
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
14000.0 $ |
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Clothing And Shoes |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
29.33 $ |
|
|
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
34.5 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
66.0 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
45.0 $ |
|
|
Rent Per Month |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
886.0 $ |
|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
819.0 $ |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
1706.0 $ |
|
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Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
1601.0 $ |
|
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Buy Apartment Price |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
26920.54 $ |
|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
26920.54 $ |
|
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Salaries And Financing |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
3169.0 $ |
|
|
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate |
6.09 % |
|
The monthly expenses for living in South Bend, Indiana come to a total of approximately $2272. This includes an average monthly rent of around $886 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $225 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $650 per month.
Living in South Bend, Indiana appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $3169.0. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in South Bend, Indiana, you would likely need an income exceeding $3169.0.
In South Bend, Indiana, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $3169.0, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.
The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of South Bend, Indiana is approximately $886. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $819.0 for such an apartment.
The expense for groceries in South Bend, Indiana can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $493 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.
The cost of living in United States can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout United States.
There's a medium risk in South Bend even though some of these crime statistics really make me want to give it a high risk. There's a one in 58 risks of being a violent crime victim and the violent crime rate is a staggering 4 times higher than the state and national rates.
Transpo is the local bus system with regularly scheduled stops around the city. As of mid-2022, the company was having trouble finding drivers, forcing them to cancel routes. You can also get a taxi or rideshare here. I'd recommend having your own car for safety, but that does bring additional safety risks we'll discuss. There's a medium risk, whichever option you choose.
There were 21 pickpockets in 2020, which doesn't seem like too many in a city of 104,000 people, but it's medium risk. That's more because if criminals here want to steal from you, they aren't afraid to get violent to make it happen. I wouldn't go in public here without the very basic necessities and keep everything out of sight and hidden in pockets that aren't easily accessible or noticeable.
This is definitely the snowier part of Indiana, with an average of more than five feet falling each winter. Sometimes that can come with a blizzard or ice storm. A quick YouTube search of "South Bend Tornado" will show you just how powerful those storms can be. The county emergency management plan includes flooding, drought, extreme heat, and extreme cold. All that adds up to medium risk, but you should be on high alert if there's a weather watch.
There's a medium risk here as well, with a robbery rate more than three times the national average. The way data was counted in 2020 if a robbery turned into an assault, only the assault was counted in the reports. That means any one of the 1,421 aggravated assaults could've started as a robbery that got violent. If you are robbed here, don't fight back and just try to remember as much as you can to be a good witness.
The disaster planning for St. Joseph County, where South Bend is located, includes Nuclear Attack Threat. There are some tech companies here, but nothing so big that a terror group might want to hit South Bend over large populations like nearby Chicago or Indianapolis. I'd say the risk is low, but it can't hurt to review the planning just in case.
Fraud was so bad here in 2019 that the city issued a "Fraud Alert Warning" due to so many people getting scammed. However, that was related to emails, phone calls, or text messages to residents. In a city that is so riddled with crime, I want to put a medium risk on this, because you can't really trust anyone here who is offering any kind of deal. From a winning lottery ticket that the person can't cash into rental homes that might not be legit, you should question everyone offering a "too good to be true" deal. You can also rest assured there isn't a warrant out for your arrest here and, if there is, you certainly can't pay to have that warrant expunged.
The sexual assault rate is twice the national average and there are a lot of places to get into trouble here that seem tempting. With Notre Dame being nearby, there's a great nightlife opportunity out there. Women should travel in groups, never leave a woman behind, and always cover their drink when they aren't taking a swig. Don't walk around at night here and use GPS along main roads to get around. It's a medium risk and you should take personal safety extra seriously here.
The tap water in South Bend passed all tests done in the 2022 Annual Water Quality Report. That means it meets or exceeds all requirements of the state and federal governments. This might be the only low risk that exists in South Bend.
You should start the Visa application at least four months ahead of your trip to make sure you finish all the required steps. Once you're in South Bend, you'll use your passport and not your visa to prove your ID. You don't need to show the Visa to get into Michigan either.
Only the U.S. Dollar is used here. You should avoid carrying cash at all if you can. Purchase as much as possible ahead of time and when going in public you should just bring one credit card. Check your purchases daily to make sure there isn't any fraud.
Winter travelers need snow boots, heavy coats, gloves, scarves - the works. There's a lot of snow here. Summer is going to be hot, but not as hot as some other parts of the country. You should dress in layers throughout spring and fall since the temperatures can fluctuate.
The South Bend Airport is four miles west of the city center. If you want to fly out of a Chicago airport, plan for a two-hour drive. The Indianapolis airport is about three hours south.
You should get travel insurance for a place where the weather can impact flights and the weather on the ground can be so extreme.
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 33°F | 36°F | 47°F | 59°F | 68°F | 78°F | 81°F | 79°F | 73°F | 61°F | 48°F | 37°F |
| Temp | 26°F | 28°F | 37°F | 48°F | 58°F | 67°F | 72°F | 70°F | 63°F | 52°F | 41°F | 30°F |
| Low | 20°F | 22°F | 30°F | 40°F | 49°F | 58°F | 63°F | 61°F | 54°F | 44°F | 34°F | 25°F |
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 0°C | 2°C | 8°C | 15°C | 20°C | 25°C | 27°C | 26°C | 22°C | 16°C | 8°C | 2°C |
| Temp | -3°C | -2°C | 2°C | 8°C | 14°C | 19°C | 22°C | 21°C | 17°C | 11°C | 5°C | -1°C |
| Low | -6°C | -5°C | -1°C | 4°C | 9°C | 14°C | 17°C | 16°C | 12°C | 6°C | 1°C | -3°C |