City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 3.0% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $103,000 in Indianapolis, IN to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,267 a month in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $462 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.9% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Lexington, KY ($107,428 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.1% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,067 in Lexington | $103,022 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$462/yr.
78 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$462/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Lexington, KY | Real change, Indianapolis → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $61,722 | +2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $74,678 | +2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $89,508 | +2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $106,437 | +2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $125,776 | +2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $61,460 | $63,317 (+4.6%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $123,510 | $127,242 (+19.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $77,780 | $80,130 (+1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $79,040 | $81,428 (−3.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.