Is $28,000 a good salary in Indiana?

$28,000 in Indiana provides a monthly take-home of approximately $1,979 after taxes. Across major Indiana cities, this salary is rated very tight, with an average monthly surplus of $-131.

What is the cost of living on $28,000 in Indiana?

The average monthly living cost across major Indiana cities is approximately $2,110 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $28,000 take-home pay of $1,979/month, you would have roughly $-131/month remaining.

Living in Indiana · 2026

Is $28,000 enough to live in Indiana?

Single adult · IN · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very tight

Monthly take-home

$1,979

Avg monthly expenses

$2,110

Avg monthly surplus

$-131

Savings potential

~0%

After-tax take-home in Indiana

Gross salary$28,000

Federal income tax− $1,254

State income tax− $854

Social Security− $1,736

Medicare− $406

Annual take-home$23,750

Effective tax rate15.18%

How $28,000 feels in Indiana cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Indianapolis

COL index: 0.96× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$418

Transport

$168

Utilities

$158

Healthcare

$192

Total: $2,136/mo

Surplus: $-157/mo

Rent burden: 60.6% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Indianapolis analysis →

Fort Wayne

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,937/mo

Surplus: $42/mo

Rent burden: 53.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Fort Wayne analysis →

Evansville

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$387

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,796/mo

Surplus: $183/mo

Rent burden: 48.0% — High (35–50%)

Full Evansville analysis →

South Bend

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$396

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,871/mo

Surplus: $108/mo

Rent burden: 50.5% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full South Bend analysis →

Carmel

COL index: 1.10× national avg

Not recommended

Rent (1BR)

$1,450

Food

$475

Transport

$193

Utilities

$182

Healthcare

$220

Total: $2,520/mo

Surplus: $-541/mo

Rent burden: 73.3% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Carmel analysis →

Bloomington

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$418

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,401/mo

Surplus: $-422/mo

Rent burden: 70.7% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Bloomington analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,979 ($23,748/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$990

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$594

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$396

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$11,874

Wants / year

$7,124

Savings / year

$4,750

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Indianapolis

Rent alone would take 61% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $48,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 2.1/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $28,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Indianapolis, Indiana. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $157, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Indianapolis is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.96). $28,000 here is roughly equivalent to $53,958 in San Francisco or $25,667 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$28,000 is 28% below the Indiana individual median of $38,900. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$38,900

-28%

State household median

$67,173

-58%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$28,000 vs. Indiana income benchmarks

Individual median (Indiana)

$38,900

-28% vs. this salary

Household median (Indiana)

$67,173

-58% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Indiana

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.