Albuquerque vs Evansville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Albuquerque
Evansville
💡 The Verdict
Evansville is 4% cheaper than Albuquerque overall. A $75,000 salary in Albuquerque is equivalent to $71,739 in Evansville.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Albuquerque (left) vs Evansville (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Albuquerque versus Evansville. Differences shown from Albuquerque perspective.
| Item | Albuquerque | Evansville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $810/mo | $770/mo | +$40.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,100/mo | $1,070/mo | +$30.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,420/mo | $1,440/mo | $-20.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.82 | $2.25 | +$0.57 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.83 | $3.08 | +$0.75 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.01 | $2.43 | +$0.58 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.54 | $4.65 | +$0.89 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.31 | $3.13 | +$0.18 |
| Restaurant Meal | $15.73 | $17.91 | $-2.18 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Albuquerque has the same purchasing power as $71,739 in Evansville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Evansville equals $78,409 in Albuquerque.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1275 difference is driven by New Mexico having a higher state income tax rate. New Mexico details → · Indiana details →
Reading These Numbers: Albuquerque (92) vs Evansville (88)
Albuquerque at 92 is 8% below the US average, while Evansville at 88 is 12% below average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Albuquerque, the composite index of 92 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 80, followed by groceries (97), utilities (95), transportation (99), and healthcare (94). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,100/mo in Albuquerque and $1,070/mo in Evansville, the annual rent difference is approximately $360.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $1,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $20,000.0 difference in median home prices between Albuquerque and Evansville translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Albuquerque vs Evansville
Choosing between Albuquerque and Evansville involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Albuquerque against Evansville, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.