Cost of Living in Indianapolis, IN, United States

Updated On December 26, 2025
Cost of Living Index:
74.2
* Based on Research & User Data

United States FlagUnited States : Cost of Living by City

Cost of Living in United States

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Indianapolis, IN?

Indianapolis is located right at the center of the state of Indiana.

It is the state capital and largest city of Indiana.

When it comes to the cost of living, Indianapolis is cheap compared to other cities: it is actually possible to live in reasonable comfort on very little.

Living on the north side is also fantastic: there are ample places to walk, bike, and hang out by the river – pretty much do anything.

Indianapolis is at the beginning of a major growth spurt.

It has all of the things that New York and Los Angeles have, just in smaller amounts.

Cost of Living Breakdown in Indianapolis, IN

Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

There are many restaurants in this wide city, that will quench all tastes and wallets.

You may go for dinner and a few drinks for 45$ a night though this will truly depend on where you go.

You can have a very nice coffee for 4$ and a nice meal at an inexpensive restaurant for only 20$.

Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) $20.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) $5.00
Water (0.33 Liter) $1.34
Markets

MARKETS

Going shopping for food will definitely cut your expenses.

Spending around 300$ a month is a reasonable range for groceries for a 2-person household, and if spent wisely could cover all your everyday food expenses.

The best advice is to ask around for shops that are cheaper and then stick to them.

Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter) $0.83
Loaf Bread (500g) $3.16
Eggs (12) $2.23
Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

In this huge city, you’ll definitely need a car to get around.

While the public bus system is both clean and efficient, routes can get pretty complicated, and large parts of the metro area are not even serviced.

Indy Go is the public bus system that travels throughout the city and suburbs.

Single fares are $1.75, and day passes are available for $4.

Uber/Lyft is widely able and cheap because there’s no traffic.

Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket $1.75
Monthly Pass $60.00
Gasoline $0.96
Utilities

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

Utilities are expensive in Indianapolis, though it does depend on the amount of electricity you use and on the size of your apartment.

For example, for a bit larger apartment, of about 85m2, all basic utilities like heating, cooling, electricity, and gas will cost you around 225$.

Average Utilities Prices
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) $225.30
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local $0.10
Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) $70.54
Sports and leisure

SPORTS & LEISURE

There are parks all around and in Indianapolis that offer a variety of things to do, including hiking, picnicking, camping, and some water sport.

You may need to drive an hour or two in either direction depending on what you are looking for – but they’re there!

A gym or a fitness club membership will cost you around 50$, which is rather reasonable.

Average Leisure Prices
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult $48.253
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) $18.33
Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release $11.50
Clothing and shoes

CLOTHING & SHOES

Indianapolis is made up of various areas that offer both unique and typical shopping opportunities.

From Broad Ripple Village and Fountain Square – two unique areas, to typical suburban shopping malls and chains like Castleton – you’ll find anything here.

Quality jeans will cost you around 46$, and you won’t find any good running sneakers without cashing out close to 70$.

Average Clothing Prices
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) $46.33
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) $32.8
1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) $69.38
Rent per month

RENT PER MONTH

Prices for a 2-bedroom apartment in Indianapolis can range from $1300 to $1550 depending on what side of town you’re living on.

Only want a one-bedroom apartment?

Well, while it will cost less, between $1075.4-$1398.64, there will be a much longer waiting list to get one.

One-bedrooms are unique for some reason here, with some waiting lists being over two years!

Average Rent Prices
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center $1398.64
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center $1075.4
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center $2325.0

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Indianapolis, IN?

Food and groceries are the biggest expense of anyone living in Indianapolis, along with rent that has only 2% less than food on this money-spending pie chart.

Rest assured that rent is definitely a significant financial burden, too.

Utilities are also a big expense for an average person living in Indianapolis – as this is something that just has to be paid, like it or not.

Other significant expenses for the people of Indianapolis are restaurants and transportation, while clothing and shoes draw the least amount of money from them.

Average Costs Breakdown

14.9%
30.5%
8.1%
8.9%
4.5%
1.6%
31.6%

Indianapolis, IN: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

Employment opportunities cover the whole range from high-tech white-collar jobs to numerous blue-collar openings – it’s a large city after all, and very popular, at that!

Being located in the Midwest, agriculture is also a big part of the area for employment.

Indianapolis has a relatively low cost of living in the country while the wages are reasonably high.

The average monthly salary well surpasses 4400$, while the minimum wage in Indianapolis amounts up to 1200$ which is definitely enough to lead a comfortable life, especially with the low cost of living here and the low prices for everything.

Average Salary$4433.10
Minimum Wage$1256.67
Mortgage Interest Rate6.65%

Indianapolis Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Indianapolis Safety Review

Safety Index:
44
OVERALL RISKMEDIUM
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISKLOW
PICKPOCKETS RISKMEDIUM
NATURAL DISASTERS RISKMEDIUM
MUGGING RISKMEDIUM
TERRORISM RISKMEDIUM
SCAMS RISKLOW
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISKLOW
TAP WATER RISKLOW

Cost of Living by City in United States

City Cost of Living Index
United States FlagAlbany, NY 72.4
United States FlagAlbuquerque, NM 72.4
United States FlagAnchorage, AK 72.4
United States FlagAnn Arbor, MI 72.4
United States FlagArlington, TX 72.4
United States FlagAsheville, NC 72.4
United States FlagAtlanta, GA 72.4
United States FlagAustin, TX 72.4
United States FlagBakersfield, CA 72.4
United States FlagBaltimore, MD 72.4
United States FlagBellevue, WA 72.4
United States FlagBellingham, WA 72.4
United States FlagBerkeley, CA 72.4
United States FlagBirmingham, AL 72.4
United States FlagBoise, ID 72.4
United States FlagBoston, MA 72.4
United States FlagBoulder, CO 72.4
United States FlagBrooklyn, NY 72.4
United States FlagBuffalo, NY 72.4
United States FlagBurlington, VT 72.4
United States FlagCharleston, SC 72.4
United States FlagCharlotte, NC 73.33
United States FlagChattanooga, TN 72.4
United States FlagChicago, IL 72.4
United States FlagCincinnati, OH 72.4
United States FlagCleveland, OH 72.4
United States FlagColumbia, SC 72.4
United States FlagColumbus, OH 72.4
United States FlagDallas, TX 72.4
United States FlagDayton, OH 72.4
United States FlagDenver, CO 72.4
United States FlagDes Moines, IA 72.4
United States FlagDetroit, MI 72.4
United States FlagEl Paso, TX 72.4
United States FlagEugene, OR 72.4
United States FlagEverett, WA 72.4
United States FlagFayetteville, AR 72.4
United States FlagFort Myers, FL 72.4
United States FlagFort Wayne, IN 72.4
United States FlagFort Worth, TX 72.4
United States FlagFresno, CA 74.2
United States FlagGainesville, FL 74.2
United States FlagGrand Rapids, MI 74.2
United States FlagGreensboro, NC 74.2
United States FlagHartford, CT 74.2
United States FlagHonolulu, HI 74.2
United States FlagHouston, TX 74.2
United States FlagHuntsville, AL 74.2
United States FlagIrvine, CA 74.2
United States FlagJacksonville, FL 74.2
United States FlagJersey City, NJ 74.2
United States FlagKansas City, MO 74.2
United States FlagKnoxville, TN 74.2
United States FlagLas Vegas, NV 74.2
United States FlagLexington, KY 74.2
United States FlagLittle Rock, AR 74.2
United States FlagLong Beach, CA 74.2
United States FlagLos Angeles, CA 74.2
United States FlagLouisville, KY 74.2
United States FlagLubbock, TX 74.2
United States FlagMadison, WI 74.2
United States FlagMemphis, TN 74.2
United States FlagMiami, FL 74.2
United States FlagMilwaukee, WI 74.2
United States FlagMinneapolis, MN 74.2
United States FlagNashville, TN 74.2
United States FlagNew Orleans, LA 74.2
United States FlagNew York, NY 74.2
United States FlagOakland, CA 74.2
United States FlagOklahoma City, OK 74.2
United States FlagOlympia, WA 74.2
United States FlagOrlando, FL 74.2
United States FlagPeoria, IL 72.4
United States FlagPhiladelphia, PA 72.4
United States FlagPhoenix, AZ 72.4
United States FlagPittsburgh, PA 72.4
United States FlagPortland, ME 72.4
United States FlagPortland, OR 72.4
United States FlagRaleigh, NC 72.4
United States FlagReno, NV 72.4
United States FlagRichmond, VA 74.2
United States FlagRochester, NY 74.2
United States FlagSacramento, CA 74.2
United States FlagSaint Louis, MO 74.2
United States FlagSaint Paul, MN 74.2
United States FlagSaint Petersburg, FL 74.2
United States FlagSalem, OR 74.2
United States FlagSalt Lake City, UT 74.2
United States FlagSan Antonio, TX 74.2
United States FlagSan Diego, CA 74.2
United States FlagSan Francisco, CA 74.2
United States FlagSan Jose, CA 74.2
United States FlagSanta Barbara, CA 74.2
United States FlagSanta Rosa, CA 74.2
United States FlagSeattle, WA 74.2
United States FlagSpokane, WA 74.2
United States FlagSpringfield, MO 74.2
United States FlagSyracuse, NY 74.2
United States FlagTacoma, WA 74.2
United States FlagTallahassee, FL 74.2
United States FlagTampa, FL 74.2
United States FlagToledo, OH 74.2
United States FlagTucson, AZ 74.2
United States FlagTulsa, OK 74.2
United States FlagVancouver, WA 74.2
United States FlagVirginia Beach, VA 74.2
United States FlagWashington, DC 74.2
United States FlagWest Palm Beach, FL 74.2
United States FlagWichita, KS 74.2

Where to Next?

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

Cost of Living - Country Index Cost of Living - City Index

1 Review on Indianapolis, IN

  1. L
    Lincoln says:

    It’s refreshing to hear about a place where you can enjoy a good quality of life without breaking the bank. The affordability in Indianapolis really makes it appealing, especially with all the amenities you mentioned. Sounds like a great spot to settle down!

Indianapolis, IN Rated 4 / 5 based on 1 user reviews.

Share Your Experience

Share
Facebook Pinterest Review
1