Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 17% higher in Portland, ME. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$933
$1,038
+11% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,331
+38% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,664
+47% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,919
+47% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$452,600
+119% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$76,174
+21% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$56,960
+15% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
37.5 yr
+3.4 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
55.3%
46.7%
+8.6 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
59.2%
+25.0 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
24.3 min
19.9 min
+4.4 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
272.7
+71% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
2,513.3
+25% 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
46.5°F
+6.7°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
47.3 in
+4.8 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
28.6
+58% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$21.00
+53% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / ME)
7%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
7.15%
+4.2 pp in ME

Indianapolis vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Portland?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Portland?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).