City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Lansing, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Indianapolis, IN (95.7) and Lansing, MI (95.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN goes as far as $99,300 in Lansing, MI.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,267 a month in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,012 in Lansing, MI. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN and 16% in Lansing, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,079 a year higher in Lansing, MI than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.3% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Lansing, MI ($107,428 → $117,402), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.1% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Lansing, MI: price level 95.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Lansing, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 95.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,263 in Lansing | $100,742 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,012/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $52,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Lansing-East Lansing, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Lansing |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 95.5 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 95.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Lansing, MI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$1,079/yr.
71 Strong offer
Lansing, MI → Indianapolis, IN
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,079/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Lansing, MI is in Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Lansing, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Lansing, MI | Real change, Indianapolis → Lansing |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $68,081 | +10.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $82,372 | +10.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $98,729 | +10.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $117,402 | +10.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $138,734 | +10.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Lansing, MI | Lansing pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $72,930 | $73,471 (+21.4%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $97,120 | $97,841 (−8.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $79,210 | $79,798 (+0.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $84,320 | $84,946 (+0.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.