Moving from Chicago to Indianapolis
A typical worker keeps $3,181 more a year in Indianapolis than in Chicago, after taxes, rent and everyday costs. To keep the same as a typical Chicago salary of $54,720, you'd need about $45,100 in Indianapolis.
What your job keeps in each city
Pick a job to compare local pay, or enter one salary to see what the move alone changes.
A typical worker keeps $3,181 more a year in Indianapolis than in Chicago.
- Typical salary
- $54,720
- Federal income tax
- −$4,386
- Payroll taxes
- −$4,186
- State income tax
- −$2,564
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$22,272
- Everyday costs
- −$18,234
a year, or $257 a month
- Typical salary
- $49,340
- Federal income tax
- −$3,741
- Payroll taxes
- −$3,775
- State income tax
- −$1,426
- Local income tax
- −$976
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$16,272
- Everyday costs
- −$16,891
a year, or $522 a month
Pay: BLS OEWS metro estimates. Rent: HUD FY2027. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local schedules, single filer.
Change cities or job: compare any two cities or states at three pay levels.
At a glance
A typical worker in each city: where the money goes, pay, costs and price levels. The tables on this page have every figure.
Cost of living side by side
Monthly costs for one person. Green means the move saves money; red means it costs more.
| Chicago | Indianapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)7.6% cheaper | 103.6 | 95.7 |
| Rent, studio$544 less | $1,750 | $1,206 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom$500 less | $1,856 | $1,356 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom$537 less | $2,097 | $1,560 |
| Food$63 less | $529 | $466 |
| Transportation$51 less | $419 | $368 |
| Healthcare$5 less | $354 | $349 |
| Utilities$7 more | $218 | $225 |
| Monthly total, 1-bedroom$612 less | $3,376 | $2,764 |
Salaries
Median pay for the same job in each metro, and how the move changes what you keep: the typical worker and the 10 jobs we cover with the most workers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN area. The calculator above has all 40.
| Job | Chicago | Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Typical worker$3,181 more | $54,720 | $49,340 |
| Registered nurse$3,404 less | $100,490 | $84,230 |
| Teacher$8,953 less | $85,354 | $61,383 |
| Electrician$17,243 less | $102,350 | $65,130 |
| Accountant$5,224 more | $82,360 | $79,290 |
| Software engineer$10,514 less | $134,380 | $106,870 |
| Truck driver$6,994 more | $62,300 | $61,980 |
| Nursing assistant$1,164 more | $46,940 | $38,880 |
| Medical assistant$6,959 more | $47,270 | $46,900 |
| Auto mechanic$3,625 more | $55,320 | $50,530 |
| Project manager$3,559 more | $105,320 | $99,710 |
Taxes
Taxes on the same salary, $54,720 (a typical Chicago wage), in each city. Single filer, 2026.
| Chicago | Indianapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income taxNo change | $4,386 | $4,386 |
| Payroll taxesNo change | $4,186 | $4,186 |
| State income tax$979 less | $2,564 | $1,585 |
| Local income tax$1,085 more | $0 | $1,085 |
| Total$106 more | $11,136 | $11,242 |
Living there
Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
| Chicago | Indianapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income$13,713 less | $80,613 | $66,900 |
| Median home value$99,700 less | $341,200 | $241,500 |
| Unemployment rate2.9 pts lower | 7.3% | 4.4% |
| Working from home5.6 pts lower | 17.6% | 12% |
Moving to Indianapolis
People also compare
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis than Chicago?
Yes: prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the US average, against 4% above the US average in the Chicago area (BEA, 2024). A 1-bedroom rents for $1,356 a month in Indianapolis and $1,856 in Chicago.
How much more is rent in Chicago?
HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a 1-bedroom is $500 a month (36.9%) higher in Chicago: $1,356 in Indianapolis against $1,856 in Chicago.
How much do I need to earn in Indianapolis to keep the same as in Chicago?
A typical worker in Chicago earns $54,720. To keep the same amount after taxes, a 1-bedroom rent and everyday costs, you'd need about $45,100 in Indianapolis.
Will I pay more tax in Indianapolis?
Indiana taxes wages, and Illinois taxes wages. On a typical Chicago salary of $54,720, total income and payroll taxes come to $11,242 in Indianapolis and $11,136 in Chicago.
Do people keep more money in Indianapolis or Chicago?
A typical worker keeps $3,181 more a year in Indianapolis than in Chicago: $6,259 in Indianapolis against $3,078 in Chicago, after taxes, rent and everyday costs.
Sources and method
Everyday costs: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (one-person households) × CPI-U to August 2026 × BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
- Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates
- BLS OEWS May 2025, metropolitan area estimates
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2027
- BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024, Table 1400 (size of consumer unit)
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)
- BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2024
- FCC National Broadband Map, fixed broadband availability (data as of December 31, 2025, released 2026-09-29)
- FMCSA Carrier - All With History (operating authority and insurance)
Data compiled October 13, 2026. How we calculate