Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,140/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 24% higher in Raleigh, NC. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$933
$1,301
+39% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,323
+37% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,462
+29% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,715
+32% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$377,800
+83% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$82,424
+31% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$51,990
+5% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
34.7 yr
+0.6 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
55.3%
51.2%
+4.1 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
52.9%
+18.7 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
24.3 min
23.4 min
+0.9 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
491.5
+48% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
2,838
+15% 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
60.6°F
+7.4°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
46.0 in
+3.6 in in Raleigh, NC

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
$1.25
+29% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.9
16.0
+10% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.49
$17.50
+40% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Raleigh, NC
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Indianapolis, IN
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NC)
7%
4.75%
+2.3 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
3.99%
+1.0 pp in NC

Indianapolis vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Raleigh?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Raleigh?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).