Is $80,000 a good salary in Indiana?

$80,000 in Indiana provides a monthly take-home of approximately $5,207 after taxes. Across major Indiana cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $3,097.

What is the cost of living on $80,000 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 $80,000 take-home pay of $5,207/month, you would have roughly $3,097/month remaining.

Living in Indiana · 2026

Is $80,000 enough to live in Indiana?

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

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$5,207

Avg monthly expenses

$2,110

Avg monthly surplus

$3,097

Savings potential

~59%

After-tax take-home in Indiana

Gross salary$80,000

Federal income tax− $8,954

State income tax− $2,440

Social Security− $4,960

Medicare− $1,160

Annual take-home$62,486

Effective tax rate21.89%

How $80,000 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 comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$418

Transport

$168

Utilities

$158

Healthcare

$192

Total: $2,136/mo

Surplus: $3,071/mo

Rent burden: 23.0% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Indianapolis analysis →

Fort Wayne

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,937/mo

Surplus: $3,270/mo

Rent burden: 20.2% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Fort Wayne analysis →

Evansville

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$387

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,796/mo

Surplus: $3,411/mo

Rent burden: 18.2% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Evansville analysis →

South Bend

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$396

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,871/mo

Surplus: $3,336/mo

Rent burden: 19.2% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full South Bend analysis →

Carmel

COL index: 1.10× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,450

Food

$475

Transport

$193

Utilities

$182

Healthcare

$220

Total: $2,520/mo

Surplus: $2,687/mo

Rent burden: 27.8% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Carmel analysis →

Bloomington

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$418

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,401/mo

Surplus: $2,806/mo

Rent burden: 26.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Bloomington analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $5,207 ($62,484/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$2,604

per month

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

Wants30%

$1,562

per month

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

Savings20%

$1,041

per month

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

Needs / year

$31,242

Wants / year

$18,745

Savings / year

$12,497

Salary Intelligence

Good salary in Indianapolis

Rent represents 23% of take-home income — comfortably within the recommended 25% guideline. This is a solid salary for this location.

Lifestyle score: 7.5/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $80,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Indianapolis, Indiana, with approximately $3,071/month (~59% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Indianapolis is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.96). $80,000 here is roughly equivalent to $154,167 in San Francisco or $73,333 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$80,000 is 106% above the Indiana individual median of $38,900 and 43% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$38,900

+106%

State household median

$67,173

+19%

Tax reduction strategies

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

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$80,000 vs. Indiana income benchmarks

Individual median (Indiana)

$38,900

+106% vs. this salary

Household median (Indiana)

$67,173

+19% 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.