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.
United States : Cost of Living by City
- Albany, NY
- Albuquerque, NM
- Anchorage, AK
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Arlington, TX
- Asheville, NC
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Bellevue, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- Berkeley, CA
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise, ID
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Brooklyn, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Burlington, VT
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chattanooga, TN
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbia, SC
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Dayton, OH
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- El Paso, TX
- Eugene, OR
- Everett, WA
- Fayetteville, AR
- Fort Myers, FL
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Fort Worth, TX
- Fresno, CA
- Gainesville, FL
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Hartford, CT
- Honolulu, HI
- Houston, TX
- Huntsville, AL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Irvine, CA
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jersey City, NJ
- Kansas City, MO
- Knoxville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Lexington, KY
- Little Rock, AR
- Long Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Lubbock, TX
- Madison, WI
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Olympia, WA
- Orlando, FL
- Peoria, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, ME
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Reno, NV
- Richmond, VA
- Rochester, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Saint Louis, MO
- Saint Paul, MN
- Saint Petersburg, FL
- Salem, OR
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Spokane, WA
- Springfield, MO
- Syracuse, NY
- Tacoma, WA
- Tallahassee, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Toledo, OH
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Vancouver, WA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Wichita, KS
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$.
MARKETS
Going shopping for food will definitely cut your expenses.
Spending around 300$ 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.
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 $4.
Uber/Lyft is widely able and cheap because there’s no traffic.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are expensive in Indianapolis, though it does depend on the amount of electricity you use and on the size of your apartment.
For example, for a bit larger apartment, of about 85m2, all basic utilities like heating, cooling, electricity, and gas will cost you around 225$.
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$, which is rather reasonable.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Indianapolis is made up of various areas that offer both unique and typical shopping opportunities.
From Broad Ripple Village and Fountain Square – two unique areas, to typical suburban shopping malls and chains like Castleton – you’ll find anything here.
Quality jeans will cost you around 46$, and you won’t find any good running sneakers without cashing out close to 70$.
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!
Cost of Living Averages Table for Indianapolis, IN
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $20.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $5.00 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.34 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.83 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $3.16 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.23 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $1.75 |
| Monthly Pass | $60.00 |
| Gasoline | $0.96 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | $2325.0 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Indianapolis, IN?
Food and groceries are the biggest expense of anyone living in Indianapolis, along with rent that has only 2% less than food on this money-spending pie chart.
Rest assured that rent is definitely a significant financial burden, too.
Utilities are also a big expense for an average person living in Indianapolis – as this is something that just has to be paid, like it or not.
Other significant expenses for the people of Indianapolis are restaurants and transportation, while clothing and shoes draw the least amount of money from them.
Average Costs Breakdown
Indianapolis, IN: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Employment opportunities cover the whole range from high-tech white-collar jobs to numerous blue-collar openings – it’s a large city after all, and very popular, at that!
Being located in the Midwest, agriculture is also a big part of the area for employment.
Indianapolis has a relatively low cost of living in the country while the wages are reasonably high.
The average monthly salary well surpasses 4400$, 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.
Indianapolis Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Indianapolis Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
