City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Indianapolis city (balance) | Philadelphia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,046/mo | $1,250/mo | 16.3% lower in A |
| Median home value | $184,600 | $215,500 | 14.3% lower in A |
| Median household income | $59,110 | $57,537 | 2.7% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 96.3 | 98.9 | 2.6% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 91.7 | 91.5 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 96.9 | 88.3 | 9.7% higher in A |
| Healthcare index | 99.1 | 98.8 | ≈ equal |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Indianapolis city (balance), you'd need $119,505 in Philadelphia to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Indianapolis city (balance), IN is about 16.3% cheaper overall than Philadelphia, PA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 16% lower in Indianapolis city (balance) than in Philadelphia. If you earn $80,000 in Indianapolis city (balance), you'd need about $95,604 in Philadelphia to keep the same standard of living.