Living Cost Compare
Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,140/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 14% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,088
$933
+14% in Arlington, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$963
+19% in Arlington, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,410
$1,132
+20% in Arlington, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$1,304
+28% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$276,400
$207,000
+25% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$73,519
$62,995
+14% in Arlington, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$49,340
+4% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.6 yr
34.1 yr
+0.5 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
54.8%
55.3%
+0.5 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.1%
34.2%
+1.1 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
26.7 min
24.3 min
+2.4 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
492.4
936.6
+90% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
2,433.5
3,351.7
+38% in Indianapolis, IN

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.4°F
53.2°F
+12.2°F in Arlington, TX
Annual Precipitation
39.6 in
42.4 in
+2.8 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.35/gal
+10% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
N/A
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs IndyGo (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
17.9
+9% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$12.49
+49% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Arlington, TX
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.79
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.97
+6% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.15
+13% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.63
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / IN)
6.25%
7%
+0.8 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
2.95%
+3.0 pp in IN

Arlington vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Indianapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Indianapolis?
Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Indianapolis under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).