Living Cost Compare
Houston

Texas

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Houston, TX versus $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $62,995 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.

Houston, TX
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,142
$933
+18% in Houston, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,156
$963
+17% in Houston, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,375
$1,132
+18% in Houston, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,304
+22% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$253,400
$207,000
+18% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$62,894
$62,995
+0% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,410
$49,340
+0% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
34.1 yr
+0.2 yr in Houston, TX
Homeownership
42.0%
55.3%
+13.3 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.0%
34.2%
+1.8 pp in Houston, TX
Avg Commute
27.3 min
24.3 min
+3.0 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,155.2
936.6
+19% in Houston, TX
Property Crime
4,325.3
3,351.7
+23% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
70.3°F
53.2°F
+17.1°F in Houston, TX
Annual Precipitation
54.6 in
42.4 in
+12.2 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.35/gal
+13% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Houston vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

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

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

Groceries

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

Houston vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Indianapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Houston, TX's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Indianapolis?
Houston 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).