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) | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,046/mo | $2,080/mo | 49.7% lower in A |
| Median home value | $184,600 | $783,300 | 76.4% lower in A |
| Median household income | $59,110 | $98,657 | 40.1% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 96.3 | 104.1 | 7.4% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 91.7 | 125.1 | 26.7% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 96.9 | 104.6 | 7.4% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 99.1 | 104.1 | 4.8% lower in A |
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 $198,860 in San Diego to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Indianapolis city (balance), IN is about 49.7% cheaper overall than San Diego, CA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 50% lower in Indianapolis city (balance) than in San Diego. If you earn $80,000 in Indianapolis city (balance), you'd need about $159,088 in San Diego to keep the same standard of living.