City Comparison

Cambridge vs Evansville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts
178
Very Expensive
$890,000
Median Home
$3,100/mo
Median Rent
$103,154
Median Income

Evansville

Indiana
80
Very Affordable
$170,000
Median Home
$850/mo
Median Rent
$48,600
Median Income

The Verdict

122.5%

Evansville is 122.5% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $33,708 in Evansville to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
55
Evansville
Groceries
110
Cambridge
95
Evansville
Utilities
126
Cambridge
105
Evansville
Transportation
105
Cambridge
98
Evansville
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
105
Evansville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $33,708 in Evansville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Evansville equals $166,875 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Evansville

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Evansville's 55, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $170,000. The $720,000 difference in home prices means roughly $46,800 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $850/mo in Evansville, a monthly difference of $2,250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 95 in Evansville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $451/month in Evansville. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $864/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 105 in Evansville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $420 in Evansville. 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 118 in Cambridge and 105 in Evansville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $103,154 in Cambridge and $48,600 in Evansville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $60,750 respectively. Evansville residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,407/month to housing in Cambridge vs $1,134/month in Evansville. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 225 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 122.5% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $33,708 in Evansville, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Evansville's is 55 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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