City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Pittsburgh, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 1.1% higher than in Pittsburgh, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Pittsburgh, PA would need about $101,100 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 $1,077 in Pittsburgh, PA. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN and 17% in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $2,921 a year in IN and $3,070 in PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.4% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Pittsburgh, PA ($107,428 → $110,047), while prices change by −1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.5% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 94.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,929 in Pittsburgh | $101,083 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,077/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $49,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Pittsburgh, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 72.0 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 94.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Pittsburgh, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$150/yr.
72 Strong offer
Pittsburgh, PA → Indianapolis, IN
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$150/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Pittsburgh, PA is in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Pittsburgh, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Pittsburgh, PA | Real change, Indianapolis → Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $63,815 | +3.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $77,211 | +3.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $92,543 | +3.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $110,047 | +3.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $130,042 | +3.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $76,550 | $77,379 (+27.9%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $124,500 | $125,848 (+17.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $76,940 | $77,773 (−1.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $82,370 | $83,262 (−1.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.