Indiana vs Texas Paycheck Comparison 2026

Annual salary

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Annual salary

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Additional options (filing status, deductions)
Filing status
$
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$2,183 /yr more take-home in Texas

$182/mo · $84 a paycheck.

Indiana

Texas

$59,410/yr in Indiana vs $61,593/yr in Texas.

Indiana

Take-home per paycheck

$2,284.98

$59,410/yr · 26x/yr

Federal tax$7,67010%
State tax$2,1833%
Social Security$4,6506%
Medicare$1,0881%
Take-home$59,41079%
Tax rates
Effective: 20.8%Marginal fed: 22.0%Marginal state: 2.9%

Texas

Take-home per paycheck

$2,368.94

$61,593/yr · 26x/yr

Federal tax$7,67010%
Social Security$4,6506%
Medicare$1,0881%
Take-home$61,59382%
Tax rates
Effective: 17.9%Marginal fed: 22.0%

What this paycheck affords in Indiana vs Texas

Sized off $4,951/mo take-home in Indiana and $5,133/mo in Texas. Every figure below is a spending rule of thumb, not a tax rule.

Purchasing power

$59,672 is what Indiana take-home is worth at Texas prices

Against $61,593 actually paid in Texas, leaving Texas $1,921/yr ahead once cost of living is taken off.

Rent

$56 /mo more for a two-bedroom in Texas

$1,056/mo in Indiana, $1,112/mo in Texas.

Indianaavg 2BR $1,056/mo · 21% of take-home
Texasavg 2BR $1,112/mo · 22% of take-home
Comfortable — 30% of take-homeStretch — up to 40%Average two-bedroom

The average two-bedroom takes 21% of take-home in Indiana and 22% in Texas — inside the comfortable range in both.

Buying a home

$65,000 more for the median home in Texas

$230,000 in Indiana, $295,000 in Texas.

Indianabuys up to $280,591 · median $230,000
Texasbuys up to $250,743 · median $295,000
What the salary supportsMedian home price

This salary covers the median home in Indiana; the Texas median is 1.2× what it supports. Lenders size a mortgage off gross pay, so the budgets start from $75,000 at a 28% debt-to-income ratio, 6.75% over 30 years, each with its own state property tax rate.

What's left each month

$180 /mo more left over in Texas

Indiana has $1,515/mo spare; Texas has $1,695/mo spare.

Indiana$4,951/mo take-home · $1,515/mo left
Texas$5,133/mo take-home · $1,695/mo left
HousingGroceriesUtilitiesTransportationHealthcareDining & MiscLeft over

Both paychecks cover the local average for everything. Splitting rent with one roommate would free up $528/mo in Indiana and $556/mo in Texas.

Monthly cost by expense class

Every class on one scale, so housing's share of the month stays visible. Housing is the measured average two-bedroom; the rest are BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey averages moved by each state's cost-of-living index.

Housing$56/mo more in Texas — 5%
Indiana$1,056
Texas$1,112
Groceries$19/mo more in Indiana — 4%
Indiana$471
Texas$453
Utilities$29/mo more in Texas — 8%
Indiana$352
Texas$381
Transportation$65/mo more in Indiana — 9%
Indiana$808
Texas$743
Healthcare$2/mo more in Texas — 1%
Indiana$414
Texas$416
Dining & Misc$2/mo more in Indiana — 1%
Indiana$335
Texas$333

Other costs

CostIndianaTexas
Regular gas$3.49/gal$3.21/gal
Electricity$101/mo$87/mo
Infant childcare$1,206/mo$892/mo

Childcare sits outside the budget above because it applies to some households and not others — on its own it is 24% of take-home in Indiana and 17% in Texas.

Sources: MERIC/C2ER Cost of Living Index (2025), AAA Fuel Gauge Report (2025), EIA State Electricity Profiles (2024), Child Care Aware of America (2024), Zillow Home Value Index (2025), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)

Estimate based on 2026 tax rates and standard deductions. Does not include local taxes, itemized deductions, tax credits, or other individual circumstances.

Tax system comparison

Indiana: Indiana has a flat state income tax of 2.95%. All taxable income is taxed at the same rate.

Texas: Texas has no state income tax. Residents pay only federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare.

Take-home pay at different salaries (single filer, 2026)

Salary Indiana take-home Texas take-home Difference
$50,000 $40,910 $42,355 -$1,445
$75,000 $59,410 $61,593 -$2,183
$100,000 $76,260 $79,180 -$2,920
$150,000 $109,396 $113,791 -$4,395
$200,000 $143,057 $148,927 -$5,870
$300,000 $206,356 $215,177 -$8,820

Positive values mean higher take-home in Indiana. Assumes single filer, no deductions.

FAQ

Which state has lower taxes, Indiana or Texas?

At a $100,000 salary, Texas results in $2,921 more annual take-home pay. Indiana has a flat state income tax of 2.95%. All taxable income is taxed at the same rate. Texas has no state income tax. Residents pay only federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare.

How much more do you take home in Texas vs the other state?

The difference depends on salary. At $50,000, the gap is $1,446/yr. At $150,000, it grows to $4,396/yr. At $300,000, the difference is $8,821/yr.

Do Indiana and Texas have the same federal taxes?

Yes. Federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare are the same in every state. Only state income tax differs. This calculator shows the combined effect of federal and state taxes on your take-home pay.

Is it cheaper to live in Indiana or Texas?

Indiana is cheaper to live in. Cost of living in Indiana is 7% lower than in Texas. Indiana's Regional Price Parity is 90.6 and Texas's is 97.5 (US average = 100).

Is Indiana cheaper than Texas?

Yes. Indiana has a lower cost of living than Texas (index 90.6 vs 97.5). Housing is typically the biggest difference between the two states.

Is Texas more expensive than Indiana?

Yes. Texas has a higher cost of living (index 97.5) compared to Indiana (index 90.6). The national average is 100. Housing costs are typically the largest driver of the difference.

After cost of living, which state is actually cheaper?

At a $100,000 salary, take-home pay of $76,260 in Indiana has the purchasing power of $70,863 in Texas terms. Conversely, $79,180 in Texas equals $85,210 in Indiana terms. After adjusting for both taxes and cost of living, Texas comes out ahead.

Indiana vs Texas cost of living — what's the difference?

The overall cost of living is 7% different between Indiana and Texas. Living costs are 9% below the national average Living costs are about 3% below the national average After taxes and cost of living, Texas gives you more purchasing power on a $100,000 salary.

Do I need to file state tax returns in both Indiana and Texas?

Indiana requires residents to file a state income tax return annually, typically due April 15. Texas has no state income tax, so residents do not file a state tax return. If you move between states mid-year, you typically file a part-year resident return in each state for the income earned while living there. Each state has its own tax return form — check your state's department of revenue website for the correct form and e-filing options.

Related tools

Indiana Paycheck Estimator · Texas Paycheck Estimator · All states