City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Kennewick, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Kennewick, WA are 4.6% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $104,600 in Kennewick, WA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,267 a month in Indianapolis, IN and $1,268 in Kennewick, WA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,921 a year higher in Indianapolis, IN than in Kennewick, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.9% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Kennewick, WA ($107,428 → $106,437), while prices change by +4.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.3% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Kennewick, WA: price level 100.1 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Kennewick, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 100.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,580 in Kennewick | $95,620 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,268/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $57,290 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Kennewick-Richland, WA MSA. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Kennewick-Richland, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Kennewick |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 94.8 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 93.6 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 100.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Kennewick, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$2,921/yr.
55 Fair offer
Kennewick, WA → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$2,921/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Kennewick, WA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Kennewick, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Kennewick, WA | Real change, Indianapolis → Kennewick |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $61,722 | −5.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $74,678 | −5.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $89,508 | −5.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $106,437 | −5.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $125,776 | −5.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Kennewick, WA | Kennewick pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $100,380 | $95,984 (+58.6%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $127,800 | $122,203 (+14.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $93,280 | $89,195 (+12.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $106,410 | $101,750 (+20.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.