City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Trenton, NJ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Trenton, NJ are 7.8% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $107,800 in Trenton, NJ to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,545 a month in Trenton, NJ versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Trenton, NJ and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,260 a year higher in Trenton, NJ than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +16.8% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Trenton, NJ ($107,428 → $125,431), while prices change by +7.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.3% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Trenton, NJ: price level 103.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 103.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,821 in Trenton | $92,747 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,545/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,000 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $4,180 (NJ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $63,490 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Trenton-Princeton, NJ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Trenton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 135.1 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 99.8 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 112.3 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 97.9 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 103.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Trenton, NJ
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$1,260/yr.
46 Fair offer
Trenton, NJ → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.8%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,260/yr.
93 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Trenton, NJ is in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Trenton, NJ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Trenton, NJ | Real change, Indianapolis → Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $72,737 | +8.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $88,005 | +8.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $105,481 | +8.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $125,431 | +8.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $148,222 | +8.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Trenton, NJ | Trenton pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $77,850 | $72,203 (+19.3%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $128,770 | $119,430 (+11.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $99,550 | $92,329 (+16.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $99,990 | $92,737 (+10.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.