Columbia vs Evansville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Columbia
Evansville
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 65.0%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Columbia has equivalent purchasing power to $45,455 in Evansville.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Columbia has the same purchasing power as $45,455 in Evansville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Evansville equals $123,750 in Columbia.
Living in Columbia vs Evansville
Housing Costs
Columbia's housing index of 172 is higher Evansville's 55, translating to median home prices of $430,000 vs $170,000. The $260,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,896 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,900/mo in Columbia compared to $850/mo in Evansville, a monthly difference of $1,050.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Columbia and 95 in Evansville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Columbia vs $451/month in Evansville. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 110 in Columbia and 105 in Evansville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $440 in Columbia vs $420 in Evansville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Columbia 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 $112,738 in Columbia and $48,600 in Evansville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,408 and $60,750 respectively. Columbia residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,631/month to housing in Columbia vs $1,134/month in Evansville. In Columbia, median rent of $1,900/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 117 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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