City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Orlando, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Orlando, FL are 6.0% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $106,000 in Orlando, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,731 a month in Orlando, FL versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Orlando, 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 Orlando, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.9% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Orlando, FL ($107,428 → $106,437), while prices change by +6.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.5% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Orlando, FL: price level 101.4 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 101.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,979 in Orlando | $94,358 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,731/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% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $46,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL MSA. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Orlando |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 123.4 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 87.2 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 101.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Orlando, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$2,921/yr.
49 Fair offer
Orlando, FL → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$2,921/yr.
87 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Orlando, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Orlando, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Orlando, FL | Real change, Indianapolis → Orlando |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $61,722 | −6.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $74,678 | −6.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $89,508 | −6.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $106,437 | −6.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $125,776 | −6.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Orlando, FL | Orlando pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $60,190 | $56,794 (−6.1%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $129,620 | $122,307 (+14.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $78,630 | $74,194 (−6.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $83,550 | $78,836 (−6.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.