Cost of Living Comparison Between Indianapolis, IN and Burlington Cost of Living Comparison Between Indianapolis, IN and Burlington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,705 per month in Indianapolis, IN vs $2,778 in Burlington, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,869 per month in Indianapolis, IN vs $4,107 in Burlington, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,034 per month in Indianapolis, IN vs $5,436 in Burlington, rent included.

Indianapolis, IN is about 3% cheaper than Burlington, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Indianapolis, IN and Burlington sit above the global median – Indianapolis, IN by 102%, Burlington by 107%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.49 $25.49

$20.15 CA$28.02

26.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$74.4 CA$104

-0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.10 $11.10

$10.96 CA$15.24

1.28%

Cappuccino

$5.40 $5.40

$3.67 CA$5.11

47.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.01 CA$2.80

42.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.73 CA$2.41

41.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$5.85 CA$8.14

5.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$6.54 CA$9.09

20.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.99 CA$2.76

-61.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.07 CA$4.26

-1.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$4.31 CA$5.99

18.33%

Eggs

$3.43 $3.43

$3.19 CA$4.43

7.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$13.65 CA$18.98

-31.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.73 $10.73

$9.14 CA$12.72

17.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.76 $14.76

$21.94 CA$30.51

-32.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$3.46 CA$4.81

45.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.42 CA$1.98

-6.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$3.73 CA$5.19

57.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.49 CA$4.86

-8.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.95 CA$2.71

9.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.79 CA$2.48

44.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.10 CA$2.93

-13.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.00 CA$2.78

3.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.19 $9.19

$14.74 CA$20.50

-37.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.35 $15.35

$12.63 CA$17.56

21.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.36 CA$3.29

-24.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.33 CA$3.24

-1.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.39 CA$4.72

-47.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.6 $60.6

$105 CA$146

-42.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.32 CA$3.22

-15.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.70 CA$2.37

3.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.68 $33.68

$43.79 CA$60.9

-23.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.17 CA$1.63

-28.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.0K $33.0K

$25.1K CA$34.9K

31.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.0K $25.0K

$21.4K CA$29.8K

16.65%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$232 $232

$131 CA$182

77.93%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$53.2 CA$74.0

19.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.8 $74.8

$62.1 CA$86.3

20.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.91 $34.91

$45.44 CA$63.2

-23.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.50 $31.50

$23.28 CA$32.38

35.31%

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$11.22 CA$15.60

33.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,767 $1,767

$952 CA$1,324

85.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.1K $27.1K

$24.0K CA$33.3K

13.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.38 $48.38

$62.1 CA$86.4

-22.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.55 $40.55

$69.4 CA$96.5

-41.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 $99.7

$87.5 CA$122

13.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$136 CA$189

-6.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,754 $1,754

$1,733 CA$2,410

1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 $1,292

$1,470 CA$2,045

-12.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,859 $2,859

$2,640 CA$3,671

8.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,100 $2,100

$2,440 CA$3,393

-13.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$5,745 CA$7,989

-51.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,899 $1,899

$4,546 CA$6,322

-58.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,383 $4,383

$3,278 CA$4,559

33.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.4

2.19%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Indianapolis, IN: May 31, 2026

Last update for Burlington: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,754 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,733 in Burlington. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Indianapolis, IN, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Indianapolis, IN versus $74.0 in Burlington. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $375 – making Indianapolis, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Indianapolis, IN vs Burlington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Burlington is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,057 per month in Indianapolis, IN and $4,167 in Burlington. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Indianapolis, IN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,767 per month in Indianapolis, IN and $952 in Burlington. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Burlington, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,705 in Indianapolis, IN and $2,778 in Burlington. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Indianapolis, IN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Indianapolis, IN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burlington makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.