Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 16% higher in Salt Lake City, 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
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$933
$997
+7% in Salt Lake City, UT
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,166
+21% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,461
+29% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,993
+53% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$495,700
+139% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$74,925
+19% in Salt Lake City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$55,240
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
33.0 yr
+1.1 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
55.3%
46.8%
+8.5 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
50.9%
+16.7 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
24.3 min
19.6 min
+4.7 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
878.8
+6% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
5,257.3
+57% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+0.4°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
16.1 in
+26.3 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.29/gal
+9% in Salt Lake City, 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)
18.1
13.0
+29% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$10.26
+25% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Groceries

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

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Salt Lake City?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Salt Lake City?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Salt Lake City 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).