City comparison
Boulder, CO vs Indianapolis, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Boulder, CO are 9.9% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $109,900 in Boulder, CO to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,795 a month in Boulder, CO versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 29% of take-home pay in Boulder, CO and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $771 a year higher in Boulder, CO than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −9.5% moving from Boulder, CO to Indianapolis, IN ($118,675 → $107,428), while prices change by −9.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.5% in real buying power.
- Boulder, CO: price level 105.2 (pricier)
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Boulder, CO | Indianapolis, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.2 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,964 in Indianapolis | $109,934 in Boulder |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,795/mo | $1,267/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 29% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $69,580 | $49,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Denver-Aurora, CO | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN |
Rent areas: Boulder, CO MSA and Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Boulder, CO and Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boulder | Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 157.0 | 88.9 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 94.3 |
| Utilities | 82.7 | 86.4 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 99.1 |
| Overall | 105.2 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boulder, CO → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$771/yr.
100 Strong offer
Indianapolis, IN → Boulder, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.0%; rent takes 29% of take-home; state tax +$771/yr.
35 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Boulder, CO is in the Denver-Aurora, CO pay area; Indianapolis, IN is in Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN. The last column shows what a transfer from Boulder, CO to Indianapolis, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boulder, CO | Indianapolis, IN | Real change, Boulder → Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,819 | $62,297 | −0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,265 | $75,374 | −0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $99,800 | $90,341 | −0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,675 | $107,428 | −0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,239 | $126,947 | −0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boulder, CO | Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis pay in Boulder dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $80,640 | $60,510 | $66,521 (−17.5%) |
| Software Developers | $164,560 | $106,870 | $117,486 (−28.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $99,990 | $79,290 | $87,166 (−12.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,290 | $84,230 | $92,597 (−10.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.