Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 28% higher in Rochester, 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
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$933
$1,080
+16% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,106
+15% in Rochester, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,243
+10% in Rochester, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,646
+26% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$287,500
+39% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$87,767
+39% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$60,620
+23% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
36.4 yr
+2.3 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
55.3%
65.4%
+10.1 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
50.1%
+15.9 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
24.3 min
17.2 min
+7.1 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
158.9
+83% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
1,379
+59% 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
45.4°F
+7.8°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
33.0 in
+9.4 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.95/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
16.9
+7% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$14.95
+9% in Rochester, MN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
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 Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Rochester?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Rochester?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Rochester 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).