Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,160 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $62,800 in Provo, UT. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Provo, UT

Rent

Studio
$933
$1,009
+8% in Provo, UT
1 Bedroom
$963
$978
+2% in Provo, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,128
+0% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,381
+6% in Provo, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$437,100
+111% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$62,800
+0% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$48,010
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
23.7 yr
+10.4 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
55.3%
39.9%
+15.4 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
45.0%
+10.8 pp in Provo, UT
Avg Commute
24.3 min
18.5 min
+5.8 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
205.7
+78% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
1,280.6
+62% 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
53.4°F
+0.2°F in Provo, UT
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
19.8 in
+22.7 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.27/gal
+11% in Provo, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
13.4
+24% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$11.84
+52% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Provo, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Provo, UT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Provo, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / UT)
7%
6.1%
+0.9 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.50%
+1.5 pp in UT

Indianapolis vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Provo?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Provo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Provo?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).