Indianapolis, IN Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Indianapolis, IN Summary

Cost of living in Indianapolis research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Indianapolis is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Indiana, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Indianapolis is 94, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Indianapolis is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Indianapolis ranks as the #81 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.

  • Indianapolis ranks as the #1,806 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Indianapolis is $229,422.

  • The median income in Indianapolis is $62,995.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
94
Indianapolis's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Indianapolis, IN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Indianapolis has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Indiana, Indianapolis has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Indiana's index of 92.

The standard of living in Indianapolis ranks as #81 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Indianapolis ranks as the #47 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.

For more reading on life in Indianapolis, check out:

81 out of 128
In Indiana
1,806 out of 6,489
In America

Indianapolis Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Indianapolis. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Indianapolis is 98.

  • The Groceries index in Indianapolis is 100.

  • The Health index in Indianapolis is 90.

  • The Housing index in Indianapolis is 83.

  • The Transportation index in Indianapolis is 97.

  • The Utilities index in Indianapolis is 105.

Living Expense Indianapolis Indiana National Average
Overall 94 92 100
Services 98 95 100
Groceries 100 97 100
Health 90 94 100
Housing 83 73 100
Transportation 97 94 100
Utilities 105 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Indianapolis Cost of Living Vs. IN

Indianapolis, IN Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Indiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Indianapolis is $229,422.

  • The Median Rent in Indianapolis is $1,112.

  • The Median Income in Indianapolis is $62,995.

  • The Home Value To Income in Indianapolis is 3.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Indianapolis is 0.21x.

Statistic Indianapolis Indiana United States
Median Home Value $229,422 $251,301 $303,400
Median Rent $1,112 $1,020 $1,348
Median Income $62,995 $70,051 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.6x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.17x 0.21x
$229,422
Median Home Value
$1,112
Median Rent
$62,995
Median Income

Indianapolis, IN Costs By Category

Detailed Indianapolis Services Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Indianapolis Indiana
Shampoo $1.33 $1.28
Movie $10.91 $12.13
Bowling $18.7 $18
Haircut $19.53 $24.26
Beauty Salon $39.03 $45.56

Detailed Indianapolis Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Indianapolis Indiana
Ground Beef $5.91 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.61 $1.57
Milk $4.73 $4.67
Potatoes $5.07 $4.93
Pizza $12.39 $12.09
Beer $10.3 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.67 $3.7

Detailed Indianapolis Health Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Indianapolis Indiana
Optometrist $73.37 $125.68
Doctor $99.19 $135.78
Dentist $109.26 $113.29

Detailed Indianapolis Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Indianapolis Indiana
Gasoline $3.39 $3.46
Tire Balancing $54.63 $59.92

Detailed Indianapolis Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Indianapolis Indiana
All Electricity $207.03 $193.99
Phone $190.02 $192.25

Indianapolis SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
7
Affordability
6
Diversity
9.5
Safety
3
Amenities
9
Education
7
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Indianapolis

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Indianapolis. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Carmel, IN has a cost of living index of 119, 1.3x Indianapolis.

  • Noblesville, IN has a cost of living index of 104, 1.1x Indianapolis.

  • Westfield, IN has a cost of living index of 114, 1.2x Indianapolis.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Indianapolis
Carmel, IN 100,501 119 1.3x
Noblesville, IN 71,940 104 1.1x
Westfield, IN 51,109 114 1.2x
Lawrence, IN 49,284 96 1.0x
Zionsville, IN 31,442 127 1.4x
Brownsburg, IN 30,310 101 1.1x
Beech Grove, IN 15,082 87 0.9x
Speedway, IN 13,622 90 1.0x
Danville, IN 11,049 98 1.0x
Cumberland, IN 6,154 96 1.0x

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