Home › IN › Indianapolis, IN Cost of living in Indianapolis, IN Livability score 71 · cost-of-living index 94.7 (US = 100)
How Indianapolis compares Where Indianapolis falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 95 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 95 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $296k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $296k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $156 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $156 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.84% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.84% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 360 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 360 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.9 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.9 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 86° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 86° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 20° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 20° Map of Indianapolis Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 94.7 metro-area #89 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.8 metro-area #63 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.39 metro-area #89 of 200 Median household income $73,571 metro-area #86 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $43,449 metro-area #59 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 36.7 years metro-area #53 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 37.9% metro-area #55 of 200 Foreign-born residents 8.4% metro-area #97 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 66.6% metro-area #98 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.28% metro-area #38 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +6.1% metro-area #64 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $295,921 metro-area #72 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.0× metro-area #54 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +1.3% metro-area #102 of 200 Price per square foot $156 metro-area #69 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,901 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,553 metro-area #96 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 7,793 Median days on market 11 metro-area #57 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.3% state #58 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.00% state #64 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.00% Capital gains tax 3.05% state #49 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.84% metro-area #94 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,867 metro-area #57 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 75.6 years metro-area #133 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.7% metro-area #89 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 86 metro-area #49 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 state #110 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $200 state #135 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.20% of value (~$336/yr) state #155 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 20 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #127 of 200 Commute by driving alone 74.5% metro-area #90 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 37.4% metro-area #148 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.9¢/kWh state #122 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $161 state #122 of 200 Gasoline $3.30/gal state #94 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $72 state #100 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $102 state #93 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $81 state #121 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,600 state #80 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 83.9 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #55 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 state #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 55 metro-area #175 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 900 metro-area #66 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 94% state #64 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 10 metro-area #45 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 86°F metro-area #87 of 200 Avg winter low 20°F metro-area #147 of 200 Annual precipitation 43.6" metro-area #101 of 200 Annual snowfall 25.5" metro-area #137 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 55% metro-area #150 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 360 state #61 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,000 state #83 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 88 metro-area #89 of 200 Parks 150 Hiking areas 23 Golf courses 32 Shooting ranges 9 Lakes 24
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Indianapolis Major public and private employers in the Indianapolis, IN area.
Salaries by occupation in Indianapolis Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $162,110 Pharmacists $135,340 Financial Managers $133,090 Human Resources Managers $131,120 Marketing Managers $126,680 Physician Assistants $124,260 Lawyers $119,610 General & Operations Managers $108,130 Software Developers $106,740 Physical Therapists $102,500 Construction Managers $100,330 Mechanical Engineers $92,930 Dental Hygienists $91,140 Civil Engineers $84,570 Data Scientists $81,510 Registered Nurses $80,290 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $77,270 Accountants & Auditors $76,710 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $67,420 Web Developers $67,190 Electricians $64,690 Real Estate Sales Agents $61,530 Carpenters $58,520 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,480 Elementary School Teachers $57,990 Graphic Designers $49,560 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $48,310 Medical Assistants $43,010
Find a job in Indianapolis Cities in the Indianapolis area Indianapolis (882,006) → Carmel (99,453) → Fishers (99,041) → Noblesville (70,442) → Greenwood (63,579) → Anderson (55,011) → Lawrence (49,218) → Westfield (48,262) → Plainfield (35,078) → Zionsville (30,832) → Brownsburg (29,379) → Franklin (26,073) → Greenfield (23,669) → Avon (21,783) → Shelbyville (19,678) → Lebanon (17,277) → Beech Grove (15,181) → Speedway (13,646) → Martinsville (11,916) → Danville (10,842) → Whitestown (10,253) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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