City Comparison

Fishers vs Lowell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fishers

Indiana
106
Above Average
$391,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$130,200
Median Income

Lowell

Massachusetts
131
Expensive
$429,000
Median Home
$1,925/mo
Median Rent
$79,700
Median Income

The Verdict

19.1%

Fishers is 19.1% less expensive than Lowell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fishers would need approximately $92,689 in Lowell to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
120
Fishers
152
Lowell
Groceries
99
Fishers
104
Lowell
Utilities
100
Fishers
151
Lowell
Transportation
102
Fishers
108
Lowell
Healthcare
99
Fishers
118
Lowell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fishers has the same purchasing power as $92,689 in Lowell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lowell equals $60,687 in Fishers.

Living in Fishers vs Lowell

Housing Costs

Fishers's housing index of 120 is lower Lowell's 152, translating to median home prices of $391,000 vs $429,000. The $38,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,472 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Fishers compared to $1,925/mo in Lowell, a monthly difference of $450.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fishers and 104 in Lowell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fishers vs $494/month in Lowell. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Fishers and 151 in Lowell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Fishers vs $604 in Lowell. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fishers and 118 in Lowell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $130,200 in Fishers and $79,700 in Lowell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $122,830 and $60,840 respectively. Fishers residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,038/month to housing in Fishers vs $1,860/month in Lowell. In Fishers, median rent of $1,475/mo fits within this budget. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fishers is 19.1% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 131.
A $75,000 salary in Fishers has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $92,689 in Lowell, based on the cost of living difference.
Fishers's housing index is 120 with median homes at $391,000, while Lowell's is 152 with median homes at $429,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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