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 90.
The standard of living in Indianapolis ranks as #88 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Indianapolis ranks as the #41 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in Indianapolis, check out:
Indianapolis Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Indianapolis. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Indianapolis is 97.
The Groceries index in Indianapolis is 97.
The Health index in Indianapolis is 84.
The Housing index in Indianapolis is 100.
The Transportation index in Indianapolis is 99.
The Utilities index in Indianapolis is 95.
| Living Expense | Indianapolis | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 84 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
Indianapolis Cost Of Living Compared To Indiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Indianapolis Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Indianapolis is $229,209.
The Median Rent in Indianapolis is $1,156.
The Median Income in Indianapolis is $66,219.
The Home Value To Income in Indianapolis is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Indianapolis is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Indianapolis | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $229,209 | $254,121 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,156 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,219 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
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
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 117, 1.2x Indianapolis.
Noblesville, IN has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Indianapolis.
Westfield, IN has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Indianapolis.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel, IN | 101,651 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Noblesville, IN | 73,362 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Westfield, IN | 54,677 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Lawrence, IN | 49,517 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Zionsville, IN | 32,095 | 122 | 1.3x |
| Brownsburg, IN | 31,215 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Beech Grove, IN | 14,913 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Speedway, IN | 13,968 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Danville, IN | 11,714 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Cumberland, IN | 6,267 | 97 | 1.0x |
