Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,140/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 4% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$933
$1,126
+21% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,189
+23% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,394
+23% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,406
+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$232,400
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$60,698
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$54,310
+10% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
35.1 yr
+1.0 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
55.3%
52.3%
+3.0 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
34.6%
+0.4 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
24.3 min
32.0 min
+7.7 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
916.8
+2% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
4,614.3
+38% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+3.9°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
48.5 in
+6.1 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.50
+43% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.9
20.9
+17% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.49
$16.67
+33% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.92
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.90
+1% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.02
+6% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.68
+7% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / PA)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
3.07%
+0.1 pp in PA

Indianapolis vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Philadelphia?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Philadelphia?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).