City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Miami, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Miami, FL are 19.3% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $119,300 in Miami, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,995 a month in Miami, FL versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 30% of take-home pay in Miami, FL and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,921 a year higher in Indianapolis, IN than in Miami, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +5.5% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Miami, FL ($107,428 → $113,356), while prices change by +19.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −11.5% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 114.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $119,289 in Miami | $83,830 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,995/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 30% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $48,640 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Miami |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 155.6 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 103.6 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 97.2 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 109.1 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 114.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Miami, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −16.2%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax −$2,921/yr.
30 Weak offer
Miami, FL → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +19.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$2,921/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Miami, FL is in Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Miami, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Miami, FL | Real change, Indianapolis → Miami |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $65,735 | −11.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $79,533 | −11.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $95,326 | −11.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $113,356 | −11.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $133,953 | −11.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Miami, FL | Miami pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $58,300 | $48,873 (−19.2%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $132,650 | $111,200 (+4.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $80,920 | $67,835 (−14.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $91,380 | $76,604 (−9.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.