Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,140/mo est.

vs
Minneapolis

Minnesota

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

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 22% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$933
$992
+6% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,192
+24% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,555
+37% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,761
+35% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$345,600
+67% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$80,269
+27% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$59,320
+20% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
33.0 yr
+1.1 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
55.3%
48.0%
+7.3 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
54.5%
+20.3 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
24.3 min
22.5 min
+1.8 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
1,167.8
+25% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
3,351.7
5,182.6
+55% in Minneapolis, MN

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
47.4°F
+5.8°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
32.8 in
+9.6 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.25/gal
+2% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.9
15.1
+16% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.49
$14.33
+15% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.79
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.97
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.15
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.63
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / MN)
7%
6.875%
+0.1 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
9.85%
+6.9 pp in MN

Indianapolis vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Minneapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Minneapolis?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).