City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Indianapolis, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 8.3% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $108,300 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Chicago, IL and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,885 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −9.7% moving from Chicago, IL to Indianapolis, IN ($118,984 → $107,428), while prices change by −7.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.3% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | Indianapolis, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,375 in Indianapolis | $108,254 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,267/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $49,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 88.9 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 94.3 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 86.4 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 99.1 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,885/yr.
95 Strong offer
Indianapolis, IN → Chicago, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,885/yr.
44 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Indianapolis, IN is in Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Indianapolis, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Indianapolis, IN | Real change, Chicago → Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $62,297 | −2.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $75,374 | −2.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $90,341 | −2.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $107,428 | −2.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $126,947 | −2.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $60,510 | $65,505 (−16.4%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $106,870 | $115,691 (−13.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $79,290 | $85,835 (+4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $84,230 | $91,183 (−9.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.