Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/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 $1,010 in El Paso, TX versus $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 7% higher in Indianapolis, IN. 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.

El Paso, TX
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$707
$933
+32% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$816
$963
+18% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,132
+14% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,304
+4% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$207,000
+21% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$62,995
+7% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$49,340
+25% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
34.1 yr
about equal
Homeownership
60.2%
55.3%
+4.9 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
34.2%
+6.7 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
23.7 min
24.3 min
+0.6 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
936.6
+193% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
1,509.3
3,351.7
+122% 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
64.6°F
53.2°F
+11.4°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
42.4 in
+32.7 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)
$1.50
$1.75
+17% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Utilities

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

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in El Paso, 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

El Paso vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Indianapolis?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,140, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Indianapolis?
El Paso 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).