Cost of Living in Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Indianapolis, IN to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Indianapolis, IN?
With a price level of 95.7 (U.S. average = 100), Indianapolis, IN is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 11% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 14% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Indianapolis, IN vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.7 | −4.3% |
| Housing | 88.9 | −11.1% |
| Goods | 94.3 | −5.7% |
| Utilities | 86.4 | −13.6% |
| Other services | 99.1 | −0.9% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Indianapolis, IN
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,102 | $44,080/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,242 | $49,680/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,454 | $58,160/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,883 | $75,320/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,287 | $91,480/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Indianapolis, IN
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Indianapolis, IN | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,300 | $31,854 |
| $60,000 | $57,400 | $46,637 |
| $80,000 | $76,600 | $60,488 |
| $100,000 | $95,700 | $73,361 |
| $150,000 | $143,500 | $105,145 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Indiana 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Indianapolis, IN's median wage of $49,340 takes home about $3,367 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,242, which is 37% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,125 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN
- Federal income tax$3,741
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,059
- Medicare (1.45%)$715
- Indiana income tax$1,426
- Take-home pay$40,399
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Indianapolis (Marion County) residents also pay the County income tax: about $976 a year on the $49,340 median wage, leaving $39,422. Select “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax above to include it.
Highest-paying jobs in Indianapolis, IN
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Indiana cities
Half of Indiana’s 3,201,220 workers earn less than $47,860 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,500–$72,000 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Kokomo, IN stretches a paycheck furthest, while Michigan City, IN is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $54,720 | 103.6 | $1,534 | 41% | $2,180 | $43,016 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $49,340 | 95.7 | $1,242 | 37% | $2,125 | $42,216 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $50,170 | 95.4 | $1,043 | 30% | $2,377 | $43,034 |
| Louisville, KY | $48,370 | 93.1 | $1,026 | 31% | $2,278 | $42,598 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $47,700 | 92.6 | $906 | 28% | $2,355 | $42,269 |
| Evansville, IN | $46,540 | 91.5 | $860 | 27% | $2,326 | $41,770 |
| South Bend, IN | $46,540 | 92.9 | $1,073 | 34% | $2,113 | $41,172 |
| Elkhart, IN | $48,070 | 90.3 | $992 | 30% | $2,293 | $43,638 |
| Lafayette, IN | $48,780 | 93.4 | $999 | 30% | $2,331 | $42,776 |
| Bloomington, IN | $47,660 | 95.1 | $1,036 | 32% | $2,222 | $41,120 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $44,870 | 87.8 | $854 | 28% | $2,224 | $42,073 |
| Columbus, IN | $48,470 | 93.0 | $1,257 | 38% | $2,053 | $42,714 |
| Muncie, IN | $44,110 | 88.1 | $845 | 28% | $2,184 | $41,238 |
| Michigan City, IN | $45,540 | 91.7 | $953 | 31% | $2,168 | $40,856 |
| Kokomo, IN | $48,980 | 89.6 | $890 | 27% | $2,453 | $44,753 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Indianapolis, IN vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 95.7 | $1,242 | $49,340 | 1,105,170 |
| Columbus, OH | 95.5 | $1,179 | $51,340 | 1,105,580 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 95.4 | $1,043 | $50,170 | 1,101,030 |
| Nashville, TN | 96.3 | $1,530 | $50,390 | 1,099,300 |
| Kansas City, MO | 92.5 | $1,193 | $50,820 | 1,096,110 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 94.7 | $1,058 | $49,650 | 1,114,490 |
| San Antonio, TX | 94.7 | $1,171 | $47,010 | 1,126,880 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Indianapolis, IN expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area are 95.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 88.9%. It is the #152 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Indianapolis, IN?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,418 in Indianapolis, IN (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,340.
Can you afford Indianapolis, IN on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,340 median wage takes home about $3,367 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,242 would take 37% of that.
How much is rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Indianapolis, IN are $1,102 for a studio, $1,242 for one bedroom, $1,454 for two bedrooms and $1,883 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Indianapolis, IN
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $155,230
- Financial Manager — $146,620
- Sales Manager — $137,410
- General and Operations Manager — $120,480
- Construction Manager — $109,930
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $106,010
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $102,400
- Food Service Manager — $75,730
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Personal Financial Advisor — $102,640
- Project Management Specialist — $99,710
- Management Analyst — $97,020
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $81,520
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,290
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $72,260
- Human Resources Specialist — $67,300
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $65,200
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $106,870
- Computer Systems Analyst — $101,890
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,080
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Industrial Engineer — $100,730
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $53,760
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $46,550
Legal Occupations
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $62,130
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $101,780
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,570
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,430
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,510
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $37,030
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $36,360
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $34,550
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $130,460
- Physical Therapist — $103,770
- Registered Nurse — $84,230
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $67,200
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $58,910
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,540
- Psychiatric Technician — $44,710
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $46,900
- Nursing Assistant — $38,880
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,060
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $83,110
- Firefighter — $68,480
- Security Guard — $36,490
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,610
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,350
- Dishwasher — $30,520
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,490
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,050
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,040
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,110
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $38,180
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,850
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $32,640
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $30,650
- Recreation Worker — $30,570
- Animal Caretaker — $30,440
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $28,420
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $74,000
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $65,850
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $65,740
- Insurance Sales Agent — $65,710
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $49,470
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $37,340
- Retail Salesperson — $31,530
- Cashier — $29,890
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $74,680
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $59,810
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $52,070
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $48,750
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $48,650
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $47,300
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,450
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $46,030
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $85,300
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $82,190
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $76,980
- Electrician — $65,130
- Carpenter — $65,070
- Construction Laborer — $51,040
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $80,310
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $66,860
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $62,160
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $61,710
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $50,530
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $49,520
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,080
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $51,070
- Machinist — $50,610
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,980
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $45,290
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $41,390
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $65,590
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,980
- Bus Drivers, School — $49,890
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,670
- Light Truck Driver — $45,180
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,180
- Driver/Sales Worker — $40,590
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,120