State overview · IN
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Indiana? Real data for 1 city, updated June 2026.
| City | Salary needed | Housing / mo | Median salary | Salary gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $90,740 | $1,473 | $49,340 | $41,400 |
Cost of Living in Indiana
Indianapolis requires an annual income of $90,823 to cover basic living costs, which runs below the national median of $97,658. That gap makes Indianapolis relatively affordable by national standards, but local wages tell a harder story. The median local salary sits at $48,210, leaving residents about $42,613 short of what a comfortable living actually costs. Someone earning that median wage covers roughly half of what the city demands. These figures reflect Indianapolis alone and should not be read as a statewide snapshot for Indiana.
CityWage currently tracks one city in Indiana, Indianapolis, so the table below presents data for that city only.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cost of living in Indianapolis, IN?
You need about $90,740 per year to live comfortably in Indianapolis, based on the 50/30/20 budget rule applied to BLS and HUD data.
Does the median salary in Indianapolis cover the cost of living?
Not on its own. The median local salary of $49,340 falls about $41,400 short of the $90,740 needed to live comfortably.
Is Indianapolis above or below the national average?
Indianapolis runs below the national median. It needs $90,740 per year versus the national figure of $97,559.