salaryRent is lower than in 72% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $50,160 a year. That is $24 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Indiana cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Indiana. It is number 72 of 132 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Portage?
Share of households by yearly income. 22.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Portage
| Size | Portage | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,459 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,064 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,324 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,818 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,855 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Portage overall?
Everyday prices in Indiana overall are 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.3, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Portage, so the Indiana figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Portage
Life in Portage
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Portage?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $302 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $224,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $22,420 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Portage, IN?
Renting in Portage costs a median of about $1,254 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Indiana median is $1,219.
How much do I need to make to live in Portage?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $50,160 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Portage cheap or expensive?
Portage is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.3% of the typical household income of $82,264. It ranks 72nd cheapest of 132 Indiana cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Portage?
The median homeowner in Portage pays $1,850 a year in property taxes, about 0.83% of the median home value.
Is Portage more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Indiana are 7% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Portage?
The median home value in Portage is $224,200, about 2.7 times the typical yearly household income.
38,082 people live in Portage. Numbers are typical (middle) values.