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) | South Bend | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,046/mo | $935/mo | 11.9% higher in A |
| Median home value | $184,600 | $113,800 | 62.2% higher in A |
| Median household income | $59,110 | $49,056 | 20.5% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 96.3 | 96.3 | ≈ equal |
| Utilities index | 91.7 | 91.7 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 96.9 | 96.9 | ≈ equal |
| Healthcare index | 99.1 | 99.1 | ≈ 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 $89,393 in South Bend to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
South Bend, IN is about 10.6% cheaper overall than Indianapolis city (balance), IN, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 11% lower in South Bend than in Indianapolis city (balance). If you earn $80,000 in Indianapolis city (balance), you'd need about $71,514 in South Bend to keep the same standard of living.