West Lafayette, IN vs Hamilton, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Hamilton, OH has a modeled overall cost index 1.6% higher than West Lafayette, IN.

West Lafayette, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,270 / month
Hamilton, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,290 / 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 West Lafayette, IN and Hamilton, OH 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $75.41/month in Hamilton, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,905 in Hamilton, OH

Regional cost estimates: West Lafayette, IN uses Indianapolis, IN. Hamilton, OH uses Cincinnati, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 1.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$75.41
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$905
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.

West Lafayette, IN

Population:45K
Cost Index:
84.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$353K

Hamilton, OH

Population:63K
Cost Index:
85.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$356K

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West Lafayette, IN

The Hoosier State

45K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 45K residents.

Hamilton, OH

The Buckeye State

63K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 63K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: West Lafayette, IN vs Hamilton, OH

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.

Housing
↑ 6.0%
West Lafayette, IN
$2,004
Hamilton, OH
$2,123
Difference
$120
more
All Utilities
↓ 7.9%
West Lafayette, IN
$582
Hamilton, OH
$536
Difference
$46.09
less
Healthcare
↓ 3.5%
West Lafayette, IN
$675
Hamilton, OH
$651
Difference
$23.69
less
Transportation
↑ 1.6%
West Lafayette, IN
$1,357
Hamilton, OH
$1,380
Difference
$22.09
more
Other
↑ 0.4%
West Lafayette, IN
$1,816
Hamilton, OH
$1,824
Difference
$7.07
more
Groceries
↓ 0.3%
West Lafayette, IN
$1,065
Hamilton, OH
$1,062
Difference
$3.50
less

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Hamilton, OH: Hamilton Municipal Income Tax$3,000/yr (2.0%)

West Lafayette, IN has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$910
To$910
→ $0
1 Bed
From$1,060
To$1,000
↓ $60.00
2 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,290
↑ $20.00
3 Bed
From$1,520
To$1,700
↑ $180
West Lafayette, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,060/mo

Hamilton, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/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 West Lafayette, IN
$7,575
Monthly in Hamilton, OH
$75.41
Difference

Home Values

West Lafayette
Hamilton
$353K
Median Value
$356K
↑ +1.4%
YoY Change
↑ +3.9%
↑ +37.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +43.1%

Homes in Hamilton are 1% more expensive than West Lafayette

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $418
Per year
Monthly Difference
$34.81
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

West Lafayette, 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

Hamilton, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

West Lafayette, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Hamilton, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 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

West Lafayette
Hamilton
54 Moderate
Air Quality
52 Moderate
36.6%
Good Air Days
44.8%
97 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
29 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
29 days

Before moving from West Lafayette, IN to Hamilton, OH

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Hamilton, OH for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in West Lafayette, IN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your West Lafayette to Hamilton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Hamilton, OH by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: West Lafayette, IN vs Hamilton, OH

How do the cost estimates for West Lafayette, IN and Hamilton, OH compare?

Hamilton, OH has a modeled overall cost index 1.6% higher than West Lafayette, 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 West Lafayette, IN, the model estimates $150,905 in Hamilton, OH. 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 West Lafayette, IN and Hamilton, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,270/month in West Lafayette, IN and $1,290/month in Hamilton, OH. 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 Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

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