Cary vs Evansville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cary
Evansville
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 32.5%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cary has equivalent purchasing power to $56,604 in Evansville.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cary has the same purchasing power as $56,604 in Evansville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Evansville equals $99,375 in Cary.
Living in Cary vs Evansville
Housing Costs
Cary's housing index of 152 is higher Evansville's 55, translating to median home prices of $500,000 vs $170,000. The $330,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,456 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Cary compared to $850/mo in Evansville, a monthly difference of $1,000.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Cary and 95 in Evansville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Cary vs $451/month in Evansville. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Cary and 105 in Evansville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Cary vs $420 in Evansville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 113 in Cary and 105 in Evansville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $117,400 in Cary and $48,600 in Evansville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $110,755 and $60,750 respectively. Cary residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,739/month to housing in Cary vs $1,134/month in Evansville. In Cary, median rent of $1,850/mo fits within this budget. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 97 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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