City comparison
Fresno, CA vs Indianapolis, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fresno, CA are 6.8% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $106,800 in Fresno, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,355 a month in Fresno, CA versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Fresno, CA and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,150 a year higher in Fresno, CA than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.4% moving from Fresno, CA to Indianapolis, IN ($106,973 → $107,428), while prices change by −6.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.2% in real buying power.
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (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
| Fresno, CA | Indianapolis, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.2 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,675 in Indianapolis | $106,753 in Fresno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,355/mo | $1,267/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,910 | $49,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN |
Rent areas: Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fresno, CA and Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fresno | Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.7 | 88.9 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 94.3 |
| Utilities | 161.0 | 86.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 99.1 |
| Overall | 102.2 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fresno, CA → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.8%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$2,150/yr.
90 Strong offer
Indianapolis, IN → Fresno, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.3%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$2,150/yr.
49 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fresno, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Indianapolis, IN is in Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN. The last column shows what a transfer from Fresno, CA to Indianapolis, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fresno, CA | Indianapolis, IN | Real change, Fresno → Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $62,297 | +7.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $75,374 | +7.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $90,341 | +7.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $107,428 | +7.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $126,947 | +7.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fresno, CA | Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis pay in Fresno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,800 | $60,510 | $64,596 (−18.0%) |
| Software Developers | $129,060 | $106,870 | $114,087 (−11.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,690 | $79,290 | $84,644 (+7.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,420 | $84,230 | $89,918 (−28.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.