Living Cost Compare
Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 1% higher in Eugene, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,011
$933
+8% in Eugene, OR
1 Bedroom
$1,080
$963
+11% in Eugene, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,411
$1,132
+20% in Eugene, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,674
$1,304
+22% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,400
$207,000
+52% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$63,836
$62,995
+1% in Eugene, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,680
$49,340
+1% in Eugene, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.4 yr
34.1 yr
+1.3 yr in Eugene, OR
Homeownership
47.6%
55.3%
+7.7 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.2%
34.2%
+10.0 pp in Eugene, OR
Avg Commute
18.6 min
24.3 min
+5.7 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.6
936.6
+193% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,348.9
3,351.7
+0% 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
52.5°F
53.2°F
+0.7°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
46.1 in
42.4 in
+3.7 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.94/gal
+23% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
18.1
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$13.70
+33% in Eugene, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Eugene, OR
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Eugene, OR
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Eugene, OR
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / IN)
None
7%
+7.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
2.95%
+7.0 pp in OR

Eugene vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Indianapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Indianapolis?
Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).