CostIndexUSA

Indianapolis, IN vs Mobile, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Indianapolis
95.7
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Mobile is moderately cheaper than Indianapolis — 7.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Indianapolis, you would need $73,600 in Mobile. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing32.4%
Indianapolis
88.9
Mobile
60.1
🛒 Groceries+2.2%
Indianapolis
94.3
Mobile
96.4
🚗 Transportation2.5%
Indianapolis
104.1
Mobile
101.5
🏥 Healthcare2.4%
Indianapolis
94.2
Mobile
91.9
Utilities2.5%
Indianapolis
86.4
Mobile
84.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Indianapolis to see what you'd need to earn in Mobile to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Mobile, AL
$73,600
$6,400 less needed in Mobile

Formula: salary × (88.1 ÷ 95.7) = salary × 0.9206. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Indianapolis, IN

Median Home Price
$283,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
88.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Mobile, AL

Median Home Price
$187,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Indianapolis has 32.4% lower housing costs compared to Mobile.

Income & Job Market

Indianapolis, IN

Median Household Income
$77,900
Per Capita Income
$44,400
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
887,642
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceLogisticsSports

Mobile, AL

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
187,041
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsMilitaryAerospace

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Indianapolis, IN
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.