Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 26% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$933
$750
+20% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$963
$857
+11% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,114
+2% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,240
+5% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$120,600
+42% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$46,628
+26% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$51,210
+4% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
33.5 yr
+0.6 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
55.3%
37.2%
+18.1 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
29.9%
+4.3 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
24.3 min
18.9 min
+5.4 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
690
+26% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
3,533.4
+5% in Rochester, NY

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
48.2°F
+5.0°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
34.3 in
+8.2 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.04/gal
+3% in Rochester, NY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs New York.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
29.9
+65% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$22.74
+66% in Rochester, NY

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 Rochester, NY
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Rochester, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Rochester, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NY)
7%
4%
+3.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
10.90%
+8.0 pp in NY

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 1% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, 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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).