Evansville vs Fayetteville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Fayetteville
The Verdict
Evansville is 11.1% less expensive than Fayetteville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $84,375 in Fayetteville to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $84,375 in Fayetteville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $66,667 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Fayetteville
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Fayetteville's 94, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $332,000. The $162,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,536 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,025/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 92 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $437/month in Fayetteville. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $392 in Fayetteville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 78 in Fayetteville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $48,600 in Evansville and $59,100 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $65,667 respectively. Fayetteville residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Evansville vs $1,379/month in Fayetteville. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 39 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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