City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Tallahassee, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 1.9% higher than in Tallahassee, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tallahassee, FL would need about $101,900 in Indianapolis, IN to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,267 a month in Indianapolis, IN and $1,204 in Tallahassee, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,921 a year higher in Indianapolis, IN than in Tallahassee, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.9% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Tallahassee, FL ($107,428 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.0% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Tallahassee, FL: price level 93.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Tallahassee, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 93.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,143 in Tallahassee | $101,892 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,204/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% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $46,520 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Tallahassee, FL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Tallahassee, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Tallahassee |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 87.5 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 93.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Tallahassee, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$2,921/yr.
75 Strong offer
Tallahassee, FL → Indianapolis, IN
Roughly even
Buying power −1.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$2,921/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Tallahassee, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Tallahassee, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Tallahassee, FL | Real change, Indianapolis → Tallahassee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $61,722 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $74,678 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $89,508 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $106,437 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $125,776 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Tallahassee, FL | Tallahassee pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $55,020 | $56,061 (−7.4%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $121,800 | $124,105 (+16.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $61,840 | $63,010 (−20.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $79,430 | $80,933 (−3.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.