City Comparison

Elk Grove vs Evansville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Elk Grove

California
144
Expensive
$608,000
Median Home
$1,975/mo
Median Rent
$123,200
Median Income

Evansville

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

The Verdict

80.0%

Evansville is 80.0% less expensive than Elk Grove overall. A household earning $75,000 in Elk Grove would need approximately $41,667 in Evansville to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
221
Elk Grove
55
Evansville
Groceries
106
Elk Grove
95
Evansville
Utilities
115
Elk Grove
105
Evansville
Transportation
118
Elk Grove
98
Evansville
Healthcare
103
Elk Grove
105
Evansville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Elk Grove has the same purchasing power as $41,667 in Evansville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Evansville equals $135,000 in Elk Grove.

Living in Elk Grove vs Evansville

Housing Costs

Elk Grove's housing index of 221 is higher Evansville's 55, translating to median home prices of $608,000 vs $170,000. The $438,000 difference in home prices means roughly $28,476 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,975/mo in Elk Grove compared to $850/mo in Evansville, a monthly difference of $1,125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Elk Grove and 95 in Evansville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Elk Grove vs $451/month in Evansville. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $636/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 115 in Elk Grove and 105 in Evansville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Elk Grove vs $420 in Evansville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Elk Grove 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 $123,200 in Elk Grove and $48,600 in Evansville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,556 and $60,750 respectively. Elk Grove residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,875/month to housing in Elk Grove vs $1,134/month in Evansville. In Elk Grove, median rent of $1,975/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 166 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 80.0% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 144.
A $75,000 salary in Elk Grove has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $41,667 in Evansville, based on the cost of living difference.
Elk Grove's housing index is 221 with median homes at $608,000, while Evansville's is 55 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases