City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Minneapolis, MN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 9.5% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $109,500 in Minneapolis, MN to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,405 a month in Minneapolis, MN versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,356 a year higher in Minneapolis, MN than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +8.0% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Minneapolis, MN ($107,428 → $116,038), while prices change by +9.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.4% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Minneapolis, MN: price level 104.8 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 104.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $109,536 in Minneapolis | $91,294 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,405/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $73,903 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $5,277 (MN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $59,320 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 111.8 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 103.1 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 93.5 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 104.4 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 104.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Minneapolis, MN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$2,356/yr.
42 Weak offer
Minneapolis, MN → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.5%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$2,356/yr.
99 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Minneapolis, MN is in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Minneapolis, MN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Minneapolis, MN | Real change, Indianapolis → Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $67,290 | −1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $81,415 | −1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $97,582 | −1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $116,038 | −1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $137,123 | −1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $79,730 | $72,789 (+20.3%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $130,920 | $119,522 (+11.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $86,500 | $78,969 (−0.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $103,040 | $94,069 (+11.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.