CostIndexUSA

Indianapolis, IN vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Indianapolis
95.7
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Indianapolis — 12.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Indianapolis, you would need $69,900 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−51.9%
Indianapolis
88.9
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−0.6%
Indianapolis
94.3
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.5%
Indianapolis
104.1
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.5%
Indianapolis
94.2
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−16.4%
Indianapolis
86.4
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$69,900
$10,100 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 95.7) = salary × 0.8736. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Indianapolis has 51.9% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Indianapolis vs other cities

Indianapolis, IN
vs
Bloomington, IN
Index: 95.7Index: 95.1
Indianapolis, IN
vs
Evansville, IN
Index: 95.7Index: 91.5
Indianapolis, IN
vs
Fort Wayne, IN
Index: 95.7Index: 92.6
Indianapolis, IN
vs
Charlotte, NC
Index: 95.7Index: 97.3
Indianapolis, IN
vs
San Francisco, CA
Index: 95.7Index: 115.6

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.