City comparison
Colorado Springs is safer than Indianapolis. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 216 in Indianapolis, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 246, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Indianapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,156 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The cost gap between Indianapolis and Colorado Springs is the real story here. Indianapolis comes in 30% cheaper on typical rent ($1,156 vs $1,648), which over a year adds up to $5,904. Median household income runs $66,219 in Indianapolis and $84,818 in Colorado Springs.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Indianapolis costs less and Colorado Springs pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Indianapolis at $1,156 average has pockets that run $956 and others at $1,556: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Indianapolis and Colorado Springs are 998 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $492 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $18,599 (28%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 16 points (7%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Indianapolis are 998 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, down $492 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $66,219 in Indianapolis, down $18,599 (22%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 216 in Indianapolis, up 16 points (8%).
Indianapolis, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Indianapolis and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Indianapolis rent is 30% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Indianapolis
Winner$1,156/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Indianapolis versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Indianapolis is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $492/month back in your pocket ($5,904/year). Over five years that's $29,520 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Colorado Springs, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Indianapolis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Indianapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 28% higher than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
$66,219
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $66,219 in Indianapolis, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Colorado Springs (about $18,599 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Colorado Springs is the stronger labor market on paper. Indianapolis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
7% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 7% lower than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
216 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 216 in Indianapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Colorado Springs. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Colorado Springs, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Indianapolis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Indianapolis weather is 4% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Indianapolis
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Colorado Springs
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Indianapolis averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 59°F (67°F highs). Indianapolis averages around 60°F. Colorado Springs averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Indianapolis scores 4% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Colorado Springs if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Indianapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Indianapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Indianapolis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (60°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 4%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Indianapolis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 28% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than Indianapolis (200 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Colorado Springs runs $1,648/month while Indianapolis sits at $1,156 — roughly 30% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Colorado Springs-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Indianapolis rent at $1,156/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 37/100 in Indianapolis and 39/100 in Colorado Springs.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Indianapolis; Colorado Springs only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Colorado Springs at $84,818 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Indianapolis and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in IN and CO.
