City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Portland, ME
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, ME are 6.4% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $106,400 in Portland, ME to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,658 a month in Portland, ME versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 27% of take-home pay in Portland, ME and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,734 a year higher in Portland, ME than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.2% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Portland, ME ($107,428 → $120,548), while prices change by +6.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.4% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Portland, ME: price level 101.9 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 101.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,439 in Portland | $93,950 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,658/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $73,526 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $5,654 (ME) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 27% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $56,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Portland-South Portland, ME.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 105.2 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 97.2 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 134.6 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 103.2 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 101.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Portland, ME
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.0%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$2,734/yr.
47 Fair offer
Portland, ME → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$2,734/yr.
89 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Portland, ME is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Portland, ME at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Portland, ME | Real change, Indianapolis → Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $69,905 | +5.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $84,579 | +5.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $101,375 | +5.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $120,548 | +5.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $142,452 | +5.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Portland, ME | Portland pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $76,770 | $72,126 (+19.2%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $128,710 | $120,924 (+13.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $79,790 | $74,963 (−5.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $88,470 | $83,118 (−1.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.