Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,140/mo est.

vs
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 11% higher in Las Vegas, NV. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio
$933
$992
+6% in Las Vegas, NV
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,181
+23% in Las Vegas, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,401
+24% in Las Vegas, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,740
+33% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$395,300
+91% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$70,723
+12% in Las Vegas, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$46,670
+5% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
38.5 yr
+4.4 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
55.3%
55.7%
+0.4 pp in Las Vegas, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
27.3%
+6.9 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
24.3 min
25.8 min
+1.5 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
433.1
+54% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
2,641.7
+21% 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
53.2°F
68.4°F
+15.2°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
5.4 in
+37.1 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$5.57/gal
+28% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.9
14.2
+21% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.49
$10.04
+20% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in Las Vegas, NV
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$2.10
+17% in Las Vegas, NV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$7.23
+4% in Las Vegas, NV
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.14
+1% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.74
+18% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NV)
7%
6.85%
+0.2 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
None
+3.0 pp in IN

Indianapolis vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Las Vegas?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Las Vegas?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Las Vegas?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).