City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Indianapolis, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 3.0% higher than in Greensboro, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greensboro, NC would need about $103,000 in Indianapolis, IN to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $561 a year higher in Greensboro, NC than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.9% moving from Greensboro, NC to Indianapolis, IN ($106,437 → $107,428), while prices change by +3.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.1% in real buying power.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (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
| Greensboro, NC | Indianapolis, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,049 in Indianapolis | $97,042 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,267/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $49,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 88.9 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 94.3 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 86.4 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 99.1 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$561/yr.
60 Fair offer
Indianapolis, IN → Greensboro, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$561/yr.
78 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Greensboro, NC 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 Greensboro, NC to Indianapolis, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Indianapolis, IN | Real change, Greensboro → Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,297 | −2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,374 | −2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,341 | −2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,428 | −2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,947 | −2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $60,510 | $58,720 (−1.7%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $106,870 | $103,708 (−17.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $79,290 | $76,944 (−4.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $84,230 | $81,738 (−1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.