Living Cost Compare
Fresno

California

$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 Fresno, CA versus $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 6% higher in Fresno, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fresno, CA
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,072
$933
+13% in Fresno, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$963
+8% in Fresno, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,293
$1,132
+12% in Fresno, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,304
+23% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,500
$207,000
+41% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,804
$62,995
+6% in Fresno, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,910
$49,340
+5% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
34.1 yr
+1.7 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
49.7%
55.3%
+5.6 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.9%
34.2%
+9.3 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
22.3 min
24.3 min
+2.0 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
741.9
936.6
+26% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,334.2
3,351.7
+1% 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
64.4°F
53.2°F
+11.2°F in Fresno, CA
Annual Precipitation
11.5 in
42.4 in
+30.9 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$4.35/gal
+26% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$1.75
+40% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
17.9
+46% in Fresno, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$12.49
+40% in Fresno, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Fresno, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.79
+15% in Fresno, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$3.63
+61% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.97
+4% in Fresno, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.15
+1% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.63
+15% in Fresno, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / IN)
7.25%
7%
+0.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
2.95%
+10.4 pp in CA

Fresno vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Indianapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Indianapolis?
Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).