Cost of Living in Evansville, IN
Evansville, IN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Evansville, IN to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Evansville, IN?
With a price level of 91.5 (U.S. average = 100), Evansville, IN is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 33% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 13% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Evansville, IN vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.5 | −8.5% |
| Housing | 66.7 | −33.3% |
| Goods | 94.3 | −5.7% |
| Utilities | 86.7 | −13.3% |
| Other services | 99.1 | −0.9% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Evansville, IN
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $853 | $34,120/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $860 | $34,400/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,113 | $44,520/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,370 | $54,800/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,539 | $61,560/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Evansville, IN
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Evansville, IN | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,600 | $30,538 |
| $60,000 | $54,900 | $44,702 |
| $80,000 | $73,200 | $58,196 |
| $100,000 | $91,500 | $70,531 |
| $150,000 | $137,300 | $101,090 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Indiana 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Evansville, IN's median wage of $46,540 takes home about $3,186 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $860, which is 27% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,326 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Evansville, IN
- Federal income tax$3,405
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,885
- Medicare (1.45%)$675
- Indiana income tax$1,343
- Take-home pay$38,231
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Highest-paying jobs in Evansville, IN
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $83,820 | $65,354 | $71,403 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,170 | $34,849 | $38,075 |
| Office Clerks, General | $41,190 | $34,091 | $37,246 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $35,610 | $29,772 | $32,527 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $34,080 | $28,587 | $31,234 |
| Retail Salesperson | $30,130 | $25,530 | $27,893 |
| Cashier | $28,870 | $24,555 | $26,828 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,930 | $23,816 | $26,020 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Indiana cities
Half of Indiana’s 3,201,220 workers earn less than $47,860 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,500–$72,000 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Kokomo, IN stretches a paycheck furthest, while Michigan City, IN is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $54,720 | 103.6 | $1,534 | 41% | $2,180 | $43,016 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $49,340 | 95.7 | $1,242 | 37% | $2,125 | $42,216 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $50,170 | 95.4 | $1,043 | 30% | $2,377 | $43,034 |
| Louisville, KY | $48,370 | 93.1 | $1,026 | 31% | $2,278 | $42,598 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $47,700 | 92.6 | $906 | 28% | $2,355 | $42,269 |
| Evansville, IN | $46,540 | 91.5 | $860 | 27% | $2,326 | $41,770 |
| South Bend, IN | $46,540 | 92.9 | $1,073 | 34% | $2,113 | $41,172 |
| Elkhart, IN | $48,070 | 90.3 | $992 | 30% | $2,293 | $43,638 |
| Lafayette, IN | $48,780 | 93.4 | $999 | 30% | $2,331 | $42,776 |
| Bloomington, IN | $47,660 | 95.1 | $1,036 | 32% | $2,222 | $41,120 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $44,870 | 87.8 | $854 | 28% | $2,224 | $42,073 |
| Columbus, IN | $48,470 | 93.0 | $1,257 | 38% | $2,053 | $42,714 |
| Muncie, IN | $44,110 | 88.1 | $845 | 28% | $2,184 | $41,238 |
| Michigan City, IN | $45,540 | 91.7 | $953 | 31% | $2,168 | $40,856 |
| Kokomo, IN | $48,980 | 89.6 | $890 | 27% | $2,453 | $44,753 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Evansville, IN vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | 91.5 | $860 | $46,540 | 135,250 |
| Flint, MI | 93.0 | $856 | $45,880 | 135,040 |
| College Station, TX | 91.0 | $1,082 | $44,470 | 134,040 |
| Rockford, IL | 92.2 | $895 | $47,120 | 137,650 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 92.0 | $1,065 | $45,620 | 131,430 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 89.0 | $800 | $49,360 | 139,260 |
| Olympia, WA | 103.7 | $1,682 | $61,960 | 130,300 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Evansville, IN expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Evansville, IN metro area are 91.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 66.7%. It is the #257 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Evansville, IN?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,917 in Evansville, IN (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,540.
Can you afford Evansville, IN on the median wage?
A single worker on the $46,540 median wage takes home about $3,186 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $860 would take 27% of that.
How much is rent in Evansville, IN?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Evansville, IN are $853 for a studio, $860 for one bedroom, $1,113 for two bedrooms and $1,370 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Evansville, IN
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $83,820
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,610
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,930
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $30,130
- Cashier — $28,870
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $41,190
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,170
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,080