Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

vs
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 4% higher in Spokane, WA. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio
$933
$884
+5% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$963
$903
+6% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,192
+5% in Spokane, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,442
+11% in Spokane, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$326,200
+58% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$65,745
+4% in Spokane, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$54,660
+11% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
37.2 yr
+3.1 yr in Spokane, WA
Homeownership
55.3%
58.3%
+3.0 pp in Spokane, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
32.6%
+1.6 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
24.3 min
21.2 min
+3.1 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
683.6
+27% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
4,931.8
+47% in Spokane, WA

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
48.9°F
+4.3°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
17.8 in
+24.7 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.12/gal
+30% in Spokane, WA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
14.9
+18% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$20.41
+49% in Spokane, WA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / WA)
7%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
None
+3.0 pp in IN

Indianapolis vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Spokane?
Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Spokane?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Spokane?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).