Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Rutland

Vermont

$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 Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 13% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio
$933
$893
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$963
$856
+11% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,097
+3% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,207
+7% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$176,400
+15% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$55,000
+13% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
48.5 yr
+14.4 yr in Rutland, VT
Homeownership
55.3%
52.7%
+2.6 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
32.2%
+2.0 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
24.3 min
14.7 min
+9.6 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
487.8
+48% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
3,973.3
+19% in Rutland, VT

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
44.6°F
+8.6°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
40.5 in
+2.0 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Rutland, VT

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)
17.5
24.4
+40% in Rutland, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$26.07
+6% in Rutland, VT

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / VT)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
8.75%
+5.8 pp in VT

Indianapolis vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Rutland?
Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Rutland?
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 Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Rutland?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).