Portage, IN vs University City, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

University City, MO has a modeled overall cost index 15.1% lower than Portage, IN.

Portage, IN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,330 / month
University City, MO · modeled 2BR rent: $1,360 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Portage, IN and University City, MO using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Portage, IN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,353/month in University City, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $133,769 in University City, MO

Regional cost estimates: Portage, IN uses Chicago, IL. University City, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 15.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,353

Savings

Annual Impact

$16.2K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Portage, IN

Population:39K

Cost Index:

97.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$262K

University City, MO

Population:34K

Cost Index:

82.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$268K

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Portage, IN

The Hoosier State

39K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 39K residents.

University City, MO

The Show-Me State

34K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 34K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Portage, IN vs University City, MO

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Portage, IN	University City, MO	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,449/mo	$1,576/mo	↓ $872less	35.6%
Transportation	$1,491/mo	$1,138/mo	↓ $353less	23.7%
Other	$1,560/mo	$1,504/mo	↓ $55.31less	3.5%
Groceries	$961/mo	$910/mo	↓ $50.61less	5.3%
Healthcare	$555/mo	$505/mo	↓ $50.30less	9.1%
All Utilities	$485/mo	$514/mo	↑ $28.86more	6.0%

Housing

↓ 35.6%

Portage, IN

$2,449

University City, MO

$1,576

Difference

$872

less

Transportation

↓ 23.7%

Portage, IN

$1,491

University City, MO

$1,138

Difference

$353

less

Other

↓ 3.5%

Portage, IN

$1,560

University City, MO

$1,504

Difference

$55.31

less

Groceries

↓ 5.3%

Portage, IN

$961

University City, MO

$910

Difference

$50.61

less

Healthcare

↓ 9.1%

Portage, IN

$555

University City, MO

$505

Difference

$50.30

less

All Utilities

↑ 6.0%

Portage, IN

$485

University City, MO

$514

Difference

$28.86

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$970

To$1,070

↑ $100

1 Bed

From$1,090

To$1,110

↑ $20.00

2 Bed

From$1,330

To$1,360

↑ $30.00

3 Bed

From$1,630

To$1,750

↑ $120

Portage, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,090–$1,090/mo

University City, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,110–$1,110/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Portage, IN

$6,147

Monthly in University City, MO

$1,353

Difference

Home Values

Portage

University City

$262K

Median Value

$268K

↓ -0.4%

YoY Change

↑ +1.7%

↑ +32.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +22.9%

Homes in University City are 2% more expensive than Portage

Calculate payment - Portage Calculate payment - University City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $3.1K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$257

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.1%

Rate difference

Portage, IN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Indiana State Tax

Effective: 3.2%

$4.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.9%

$41.9K

Take-Home Pay

$9,012/month

$108.1K

University City, MO

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Missouri State Tax

Effective: 5.3%

$7.9K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.0%

$44.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,755/month

$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

Portage, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

University City, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.0%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Portage

University City

54 Moderate

Air Quality

54 Moderate

35.8%

Good Air Days

38%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

99 High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

39 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

39 days

Before moving from Portage, IN to University City, MO

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in University City, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Portage, IN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Portage to University City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to University City, MO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Portage, IN vs University City, MO

How do the cost estimates for Portage, IN and University City, MO compare?

University City, MO has a modeled overall cost index 15.1% lower than Portage, IN. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Portage, IN, the model estimates $133,769 in University City, MO. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Portage, IN and University City, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,330/month in Portage, IN and $1,360/month in University City, MO. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Indiana and Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com