Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Kokomo, IN

Cost-of-living indicators for Kokomo, IN, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

Reviewed byPlaincost Editorial, Cost Of Living Editorial Team · June 9, 2026

89.6
Overall RPP: #296
of 387 metros: 59.3
Rents RPP: $112K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Kokomo costs less than 76% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 89.6, 10.4% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 59.3.

89.6
overall cost index (US average = 100): #296
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros: bottom 24%
by overall cost, nationwide: 59.3
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $111,547 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $89,648.

What the Numbers Mean for Kokomo

Kokomo ranks #296 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 89.6, Kokomo, IN is 10.4% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Kokomo's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 59.3 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.

Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $111,547 inside Kokomo, while a household needs roughly $89,648 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 59.3 — 40.7% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.

Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Kokomo's overall index has fallen by 2.7 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 94.3 and services at 86.3, meaning everyday spending in Kokomo is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.

Kokomo vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

90 Top 76% higher than 24% of 387 US metros

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Rents

59.3
Services

86.3
Overall

89.6
Goods

94.3

What this shows Kokomo's gap from the national average is led by rents at 59.3. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Goods vs. housing — where Kokomo's cost comes from

Metros near Kokomo's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 93.8, rents 64.3). Kokomo is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Kokomo's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Price Index Summary

Overall

89.6

-10.4 below avg

Goods

94.3

-5.7 below avg

Services

86.3

-13.7 below avg

Rents

59.3

-40.7 below avg

Salary Equivalent

A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:

$89,648

in Kokomo, IN purchasing power

$50,000 nationally

$44,824

$75,000 nationally

$67,236

$125,000 nationally

$112,060

$150,000 nationally

$134,472

$200,000 nationally

$179,296

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.

RPP History (2008-2024)

The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 2.7 points over this period.

Year	Overall	Goods	Services	Rents
2008	92.3	98.6	88.9	64.2
2009	91.9	97.7	92.4	64.7
2010	92.7	96.6	83.1	72.6
2011	89.0	96.3	89.1	62.6
2012	90.7	97.5	88.5	66.7
2013	92.0	97.4	88.2	69.7
2014	91.4	98.6	84.3	66.2
2015	88.9	97.9	85.0	63.0
2016	87.7	97.3	81.9	54.4
2017	87.6	95.5	88.4	58.8
2018	89.2	97.4	91.8	58.1
2019	90.3	95.7	89.8	62.1
2020	88.5	94.0	90.6	58.2
2021	90.6	94.7	91.8	66.2
2022	86.8	93.1	87.1	52.6
2023	89.6	94.8	85.4	61.8
2024	89.6	94.3	86.3	59.3

Metros with Similar Cost of Living

These metros have an overall RPP closest to Kokomo, IN's index of 89.6.

Lima, OH 89.7 Montgomery, AL 89.7 Wichita Falls, TX 89.5 Altoona, PA 89.5 Longview, TX 89.5 Victoria, TX 89.8

Other IN Metros

Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood 95.7 Bloomington 95.1 Lafayette-West Lafayette 93.4 Columbus 93.0 South Bend-Mishawaka 92.9 Fort Wayne 92.6

View all IN metros →

Compare to Other Metros

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Custom Compare →

Cost of Living Guides

Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026

Official BEA data on the most affordable areas

Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings

What drives high costs and how to cope

Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data

Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations

Comparing Metro Areas

Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Kokomo, IN? ▼

Kokomo, IN has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 89.6, meaning it is 10.4% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 94.3, services at 86.3, and rents at 59.3. It ranks #296 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.

What salary do I need in Kokomo, IN to match $100K nationally? ▼

To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $89,648 in Kokomo, IN. Conversely, $100K earned in Kokomo, IN has the purchasing power of $111,547 at the national average.

How expensive is rent in Kokomo, IN? ▼

Rents in Kokomo, IN are indexed at 59.3, which is 40.7% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.

Is Kokomo, IN getting more expensive? ▼

From 2008 to 2024, Kokomo, IN's overall cost index changed by -2.7 points (from 92.3 to 89.6). The cost of living has been declining.

What metros have a similar cost of living to Kokomo, IN? ▼

Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Lima, Montgomery, Wichita Falls. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Kokomo, IN's 89.6.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.

Browse all → | Rankings →

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Federal data behind these figures

BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr