Cost of living in Indianapolis, IN
2,205,695 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 4.3% below the US average, with housing at 88.9 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,039 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Indianapolis, IN
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, no childcare (DOL publishes no childcare prices for this metro’s principal county — see below), USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
Childcare is not included in these budgets: DOL’s National Database of Childcare Prices has no price for Marion County, IN in any year from 2018 to 2022 (NDCP has no county prices anywhere in Indiana for those years). The family’s budget would be higher by the cost of care.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $79,852 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $6,654 |
| Taxes | $1,045 | $1,692 | $879 |
| Take-home pay | $3,955 | $7,475 | $5,775 |
| Housing | $1,336 | $1,536 | $1,536 |
| Food | $415 | $932 | $1,210 |
| Transportation | $164 | $329 | $329 |
| Sales tax | $33 | $33 | $33 |
| Other goods & services | $967 | $967 | $967 |
| Left over | $1,039 | $3,678 | $1,700 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($79,852). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Indianapolis, IN vs Indiana and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Indiana statewide (light).
Within Indiana, Indianapolis, IN ranks 1st of 12 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 93.3. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,187 | $47,480 | 17.8% |
| 1-bedroom | $1,336 | $53,440 | 20.1% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,536 | $61,440 | 23.1% |
| 3-bedroom | $1,991 | $79,640 | 29.9% |
| 4-bedroom | $2,425 | $97,000 | 36.4% |
FY2027 FMRs for Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $1,191 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Marion County, IN
No childcare prices: DOL’s National Database of Childcare Prices has no price for Marion County, IN in any year from 2018 to 2022 (NDCP has no county prices anywhere in Indiana for those years). Childcare is left out of the budgets on this page (not counted as $0 cost) rather than estimated.
Taxes: what you keep in Indianapolis
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Indiana income tax | $1,446 | $2,183 | $3,511 |
| Local income tax (Marion County) | $990 | $1,495 | $2,404 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,327 | $4,826 | $7,278 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 20.2% | 22.8% | 27.2% |
Indiana county income tax for residents of Marion County (the principal city’s county). State sales tax: 7% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Calculate take-home pay for your household in Indianapolis, IN
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | — | 95.7 | $1,536 | $1,039 |
| Columbus, IN · compare | 41 mi | 93.0 | $1,493 | $1,112 (+$73) |
| Bloomington, IN · compare | 47 mi | 95.1 | $1,252 | $1,273 (+$234) |
| Kokomo, IN · compare | 48 mi | 89.6 | $1,179 | $1,443 (+$405) |
| Muncie, IN · compare | 49 mi | 88.1 | $1,145 | $1,487 (+$449) |
| Lafayette, IN · compare | 57 mi | 93.4 | $1,273 | $1,341 (+$302) |
| Terre Haute, IN · compare | 69 mi | 87.8 | $1,164 | $1,480 (+$441) |
Common moves to and from Indianapolis, IN
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
- Bloomington, IN5,438
- Chicago, IL-IN4,737
- Muncie, IN3,500
- Lafayette, IN3,251
- Chicago, IL-IN7,637
Frequently asked questions
Is Indianapolis, IN expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Indianapolis, IN metro at 95.7 (US = 100) in 2024 — 4.3% below the national average and the 152nd highest of 387 metros. Housing is 88.9, goods 94.3.
What salary do you need to live in Indianapolis, IN?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $3,955 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,039 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Indianapolis, IN?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $1,336 for a 1-bedroom and $1,536 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $1,191.
Does Indianapolis have a local income tax?+
Indiana county income tax for residents of Marion County (the principal city’s county). On $75,000 a single filer would owe about $1,495 a year in local tax under our 2026 data.