Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Columbus, OH versus $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 4% higher in Columbus, OH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$933
+8% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$963
+9% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,132
+11% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,304
+5% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$207,000
+12% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$62,995
+4% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$49,340
+4% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.1 yr
+1.1 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
44.3%
55.3%
+11.0 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
34.2%
+4.0 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
21.8 min
24.3 min
+2.5 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
484.8
936.6
+93% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,092.7
3,351.7
+8% 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
52.7°F
53.2°F
+0.5°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
42.4 in
+2.3 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.56/gal
$4.35/gal
+5% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.75
+13% in Columbus, OH

Adult base one-way fare — COTA vs IndyGo (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
17.9
+5% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.75
$12.49
+9% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.79
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.97
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.15
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.63
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / IN)
5.75%
7%
+1.3 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
2.95%
+0.2 pp in IN

Columbus vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Indianapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Columbus, OH's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Indianapolis?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).