City Comparison

Evansville vs Fayetteville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Fayetteville

North Carolina
81
Very Affordable
$213,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$49,800
Median Income

The Verdict

1.2%

Living in Evansville costs 1.2% less than Fayetteville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Evansville, you would need $75,938 in Fayetteville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
52
Fayetteville
Groceries
95
Evansville
94
Fayetteville
Utilities
105
Evansville
98
Fayetteville
Transportation
98
Evansville
77
Fayetteville
Healthcare
105
Evansville
106
Fayetteville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $75,938 in Fayetteville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $74,074 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Fayetteville

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is higher Fayetteville's 52, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $213,000. The $43,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,796 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,075/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 94 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $447/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 106 in Fayetteville. 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 $48,600 in Evansville and $49,800 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $61,481 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 $1,162/month in Fayetteville. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 1.2% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 81.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,938 in Fayetteville, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Fayetteville's is 52 with median homes at $213,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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