Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,160 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 11% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$815
$933
+14% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$900
$963
+7% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,132
+5% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,304
+4% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$207,000
+21% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$62,995
+11% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$49,340
+5% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
34.1 yr
+2.3 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
55.3%
+2.8 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
34.2%
+12.0 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
24.3 min
+5.0 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
936.6
+94% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
2,395.7
3,351.7
+40% 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
62.1°F
53.2°F
+8.9°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
42.4 in
+11.9 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
17.5
+7% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$24.52
+2% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Indianapolis, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Huntsville, AL
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / IN)
4%
7%
+3.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
2.95%
+2.0 pp in AL

Huntsville vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Indianapolis?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Indianapolis?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).