Indianapolis is an economical place to visit, and its cost of living is 2% less than the national average. While it can be expensive to fly to Indianapolis as few airlines are based here, once you’re here it’s cheap to walk or bike around.
Making your trip to Indy affordable and fun isn’t hard with a little strategy. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your Indianapolis budget.
Check if it’s cheaper to fly to a nearby airport
When shopping for flights, look at options that serve Cincinnati, Chicago, and Louisville airports. All three cities are less than three hours away and offer competitive flight options that can potentially save you hundreds of dollars. Hotel and rental car packages can further reduce your expenses.
Drive to Indianapolis instead of flying
Those who appreciate take the wheel understand that Indianapolis is less than a day’s drive away for more than half of the American population. Not only is driving a more flexible option, allowing you to come and go as you please, but it also gives you a mode of transportation once you arrive in Indiana’s capital.
Book flights for July, August or September
Ready to fly to Indy? Choose your vacation days wisely. According to Skyscanner, some of the most affordable flights to Indianapolis are in the summer and early fall. March is one of the most expensive months to visit as the March Madness college basketball tournament takes over and the city sees an influx of sports fans and players.
Ride the Indianapolis Culture Trail on a rental bike
If you don’t have a car, a cheap option for getting around town is the Indy citywide bike rental called Pacers Bike Sharing. Rent a bike from any of 50 stations and safely tour Indianapolis’ six cultural districts at your own pace on the Indianapolis Culture Trail. These bikes have an annual fee of $125 for unlimited 60-minute rides or cost $1 per ride and $0.15 per minute. If you want to venture outside the Pacers Bikeshare stations, you can rent a cruiser for a full day from Fun wheel rentals for $30.
Enjoy Farmers Markets
Costs can quickly add up when you eat out, with an average dinner for two costing $50 in Indianapolis. Instead, experience local Indianapolis fare for less by packing your own picnic from one of the many agricultural markets open almost every day of the week. Give your picnic a little free ambiance at White River State Parkthe large urban park in downtown Indy.
Visit the city during Devour Indy
The Devour Indy was designed to allow restaurateurs to support local businesses at a special fixed price. Devour Indy takes place twice a year for two weeks each, in winter and summer. Dates change every year and you can try popular restaurants such as the Latin-influenced restaurant Livery and European style Gallery Pastry Bar. During this time, participating restaurants are offering discounted rates for their Devour menu. Lunch and dinner options typically range from $15 to $30 per person, and some restaurants even offer takeout.
Buy an Indy Attraction Pass
The Indy Attraction Passes can be a good option if you plan to visit the city’s museums and zoos. This pass costs $48 per adult and provides access to eight attractions, including newfields (one of the 10 largest general art museums in the country) and the Indianapolis Children’s Museum (the largest children’s museum in the world). The pass is valid for 24 hours and must be used within 90 days of purchase.
Find accommodation with amenities
Although Indianapolis doesn’t have a wide selection of hostels, the city does offer plenty of private rooms for rent on platforms such as Airbnb. Some options include access to a kitchen or free use of bicycles. These amenities are a great way to save money on food and transportation.
Use public transportation
Although Indianapolis’ public transit system isn’t incredibly robust, it’s affordable and can be convenient, especially if you’re traveling through downtown or northern Indianapolis. You can purchase a day pass for $4 or use the my key Payment system. The best part of MyKey is the price cap, which means you won’t be charged more than $4 per day or $15.75 per week for unlimited use of the public transportation system.
Use the IndyGo Trip Planner to see if taking the bus makes sense for where you need to go. You can also explore bus routes and timetables at the website.
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Discover the city market and the food halls
The Indianapolis City Market has more than a dozen vendors under its 200-year-old roof, making it easy to walk around and buy the most affordable food options. You can buy a big sandwich for less than $10 at Cafe Olivier or try Maxine’s Chicken and Waffles, where a meal with two sides costs about $16. Other dining rooms include The garage dining room in the Bottleworks neighborhood and GPA at 16 Tech.
Sign up for Indy Daily Deals
Indy Daily Deals is a free program of the Indianapolis Office of Tourism and offers discounts on restaurants, attractions and more in the city. You can get 5% to 20% discount on accommodation in hotels such as Charles Davis Mansion and up to 15% off your bill at restaurants such as Conner’s Kitchen + Bar. Simply register to access the offers.
Search on Groupon
From dancing to cooking classes, Groupon has a lot to offer in Indianapolis. It is possible to save $5 to $10 on admissions for different experiences.
Daily costs in Indianapolis
Private room: $35
Basic room for two: $60 to $100
Independent apartment (including Airbnb): $70 to $120
Public transport ticket: $4 for a day pass
Coffee: $2.50 to $3
Sandwich: $7 to $10
A dinner for two: $50 to $90
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