City comparison
Grand Rapids, MI vs Indianapolis, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Grand Rapids, MI (95.5) and Indianapolis, IN (95.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI goes as far as $100,200 in Indianapolis, IN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,278 a month in Grand Rapids, MI and $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,079 a year higher in Grand Rapids, MI than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.9% moving from Grand Rapids, MI to Indianapolis, IN ($106,437 → $107,428), while prices change by +0.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.8% in real buying power.
- Grand Rapids, MI: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- 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
| Grand Rapids, MI | Indianapolis, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,157 in Indianapolis | $99,843 in Grand Rapids |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,278/mo | $1,267/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,570 | $49,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN |
Rent areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area and Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI and Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Grand Rapids | Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 88.9 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 94.3 |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 86.4 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.1 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Grand Rapids, MI → Indianapolis, IN
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,079/yr.
68 Fair offer
Indianapolis, IN → Grand Rapids, MI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$1,079/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Grand Rapids, MI is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Indianapolis, IN is in Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN. The last column shows what a transfer from Grand Rapids, MI to Indianapolis, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Grand Rapids, MI | Indianapolis, IN | Real change, Grand Rapids → Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,297 | +0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,374 | +0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,341 | +0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,428 | +0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,947 | +0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Grand Rapids, MI | Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis pay in Grand Rapids dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,900 | $60,510 | $60,415 (−2.4%) |
| Software Developers | $107,520 | $106,870 | $106,702 (−0.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,270 | $79,290 | $79,166 (+3.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,920 | $84,230 | $84,098 (+0.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.