The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered. We are providing additional data around those topics that can be helpful to gauge your particular situation. The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make living cost comparisons easily and quickly.

The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered. We are providing additional data around those topics that can be helpful to gauge your particular situation. The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make living cost comparisons easily and quickly.

Cost of Living in Indianapolis, IN

Cost of Living in Indianapolis, IN is

-1.1% Lower

than the National Average

Did the Cost of Living in Indianapolis, IN increase in 2024? Indianapolis, IN area prices were up 1.3% from a year ago. The largest increases were found in Transportation, Food, and Housing.

By using Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator, you can make a cost of living comparison of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and salary differentials of over 300+ US cities. Let us help you make an informed decision about what it will cost to live and work in the city of your dreams!

About Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is in the East North Central region of the Midwestern United States, in central Indiana. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Indiana....More

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour while Indiana's state law sets the minimum wage rate at $7.25 per hour in 2024. Demands for a living wage that is fair to workers have resulted in numerous location-based changes to minimum wage levels. View future changes in the minimum wage in your location by visiting Minimum Wage Values in Indianapolis, IN

Cost of Living Calculator

Your Current Title

Your Current Salary

Present Location (Home)

Present Location (Work)

New Location (Home)

New Location (Work)

Re-calculate

Cost of Living in other Major Cities

City, State	Compared to national average
City, State San Francisco, CA	Compared to national average + 86.5%
City, State Washington, DC	Compared to national average + 45.2%
City, State Miami, FL	Compared to national average + 15.4%
City, State Chicago, IL	Compared to national average + 12.4%
City, State Boston, MA	Compared to national average + 53.1%
City, State New York, NY	Compared to national average + 77.0%
City, State Dallas, TX	Compared to national average + 7.0%

Cost of Living Indianapolis, IN by Expense Category

Category	Compared to national average
CategoryEnergy	Compared to national average -8.1%
CategoryFood	Compared to national average -0.2%
CategoryHealthcare	Compared to national average -3.5%
CategoryHousing	Compared to national average -4.0%
CategoryTransportation	Compared to national average -0.2%

Cost of Living Comparison with Indianapolis, IN

If you move to Indianapolis from one of these cities, you would have these the changes of your cost of living.

Move From	Move To	Cost Of Living Comparison
Move FromSan Francisco, CA	Move ToIndianapolis, IN	Cost Of Living Comparision -87.6%
Move FromWashington, DC	Move ToIndianapolis, IN	Cost Of Living Comparision -46.3%
Move FromMiami, FL	Move ToIndianapolis, IN	Cost Of Living Comparision -16.5%
Move FromChicago, IL	Move ToIndianapolis, IN	Cost Of Living Comparision -13.5%
Move FromBoston, MA	Move ToIndianapolis, IN	Cost Of Living Comparision -54.2%
Move FromNew York, NY	Move ToIndianapolis, IN	Cost Of Living Comparision -78.1%
Move FromDallas, TX	Move ToIndianapolis, IN	Cost Of Living Comparision -8.2%

Based on this cost of living comparison, you can see:

If you move from Chicago IL, Dallas, TX, or Miami, FL, the percent increase of your cost of living could be 22.8%, 37.8%, and 24.8%. Looks like this move could have a negative net change in disposable income, so please think carefully!

If you move from New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, or Washington, DC, the percent reduction of your cost of living could be -43.50%, -23%, and -20.10%, that's good news to you that you could be looking at a positive net change in disposable income.

About Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis is in the East North Central region of the Midwestern United States, in central Indiana. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Indianapolis (balance) encompasses a total area of 368.2 square miles (954 km2), of which 361.5 square miles (936 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) is water. The consolidated city boundaries are coterminous with Marion County, with the exception of the autonomous municipalities of Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport, and Speedway. Indianapolis is the 16th largest city by land area in the U.S. Indianapolis is within the Tipton Till Plain, a flat to...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

Comments about the Cost of Living in Indianapolis, IN

I love to be able to eat at restaurants and try different foods, if I include that along with groceries in my overall cost of living, how would I do in Indianapolis, IN?

In Indianapolis, Indiana going out to eat at a restaurant and buying food is considered to be affordable. Make sure you take this into account as you plan your overall cost of living in Indianapolis, IN. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Are there good recreational opportunities in or near Indianapolis, IN?

If you love sports, you will love Indianapolis, IN! Since there are football, basketball teams, you can go to a lot of games. Keep in mind that the tickets tend to be expensive, so you need to manage your entertainment budget carefully. Sometimes you can get discount tickets on line. Some people purchase a season ticket with a group of friends and take turns going to the games. Sports tickets can increase your cost of living in Indianapolis, IN, but if you are a true sports fan it is worth it. In Indianapolis, IN, the games are usually shown on local TV and you can host a party of friends and watch the game together. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

How much is the average price of internet in Indianapolis, IN?

The average cost of internet access in the U.S. is $66.20 per month. There are many providers and various packages that are offered, many that bundle internet, cable, and phone together. Pricing for various packages can vary a lot even in the same location. You should evaluate the options based on your usage and preferences and pick the best fit for your needs. One tip to reduce this cost and your overall cost of living, is to get cable service from another source like Direct TV, Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime or others. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Are there any tips that will help make the move to Indianapolis, Indiana easier for my child?

Adults find that moving can sometimes be an emotional and stressful experience. Children, who don’t have the maturity, independence, and understanding of a parent may be even more sensitive to a move. If they are old enough to understand, include the children in making plans for the move. When moving to a distant place, help your children learn about the new area. Check out the website for Indianapolis, Indiana to find opportunities and activities in the new location like parks, beaches, museums, or playgrounds that kids will enjoy and look forward to visiting. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Electricity bills are a big part of my current cost of living and can be really high, what is the cost of electricity in Indianapolis, Indiana?

Electric costs in Indianapolis,IN are currently lower than average when compared to other states. Since a year ago the price of electricity in Indiana has gone down about 0.248%. Electric costs will contribute to the energy component of your overall cost of living. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

I have a child, how much will child care cost per month in Indianapolis, Indiana ?

It is difficult to exactly predict the cost of child care in any city, which for parents, is a large part of the cost of living. There are different arrangements and lengths of time that are needed to care for a child, and costs may vary a lot depending on the services provided. Based on the state average, for Indianapolis child care for a child up to 3 years could cost $8918 per year. Indiana, is ranked NO. 30 in annual cost of child care in the U.S. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Should I plan on spending a lot on rent in Indianapolis,IN?

I am single and live in Indianapolis,IN, I rent a small studio and the monthly rent is $857 . Rent contributes to a large part of the overall cost of living in Indianapolis,IN, I try to economize by having a small apartment. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

What can you do for free in Indianapolis, IN?

Looks for areas of Indianapolis, Indiana where there is a large student population. In those areas you will be sure to find lots of free or cheap events to go to and plenty of cheap places to eat. Familiarize yourself with the places where students hang out, and take advantage of discounted or bargain prices, you are sure to be able to keep your cost of living reasonable. Look at the website for Indianapolis, IN to find recommendations for activities that are available and unique to the area. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Is Indianapolis, Indiana very congested with traffic?

Overall, the time and ease of your driving times will impact your cost of living, since driving in heavy and slow moving traffic uses a lot of gas. Indianapolis, Indiana has an ease of driving ranking of 39 and is considered pretty good overall for commuters. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

How long does it take to get to work in Indianapolis, Indiana on average?

Getting to work is important. The weather, traffic, time of year, day of week and if there are accidents, can all impact your commute time. Hopefully you will have a smooth commute in Indianapolis, Indiana, but be prepared for delays. The time you spend commuting is time you do not have to do other things, so it is valuable. The average time for commuting in Indianapolis is 30.83 minutes. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Cost of living in Indianapolis, Indiana is important, but what about the weather?

Indianapolis, Indiana is considered to have one of the COLDEST climates in the country. On average there are 104 days each year that are below freezing. Keep in mind that a cold climate could result in increased heating expenses that will impact the cost of living. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

What is the cost of public transit in Indianapolis, Indiana?

Public transit in Indianapolis, IN will cost you around $60.00 per month. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Cost of Living Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cost of Living index and how is it used?

In the simplest terms, a Cost of Living index is the estimated amount that represents the cost of the basic necessities required for an individual to live. A cost of living or COL estimate may typically include estimates for housing, food, energy, medical care, transportation, taxes, and other necessities. A COL index may be used to measure what the cost difference would be for a person living in a certain location compared to another location. This cost of living comparison helps individuals make decisions about where they would like to live and what they can afford based on the costs in that location. A cost of living comparison can provide guidance about how an increase or decrease in these basic living expenses impacts necessary spending for an individual or a family. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

What factors are included in estimating your cost of living?

The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered when you evaluate your cost of living comparison. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make cost of living comparisons cost comparisons easily and quickly. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Last Update: 2024-04-24