City Comparison

Evansville vs Fort Collins

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Fort Collins

Colorado
116
Above Average
$531,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$74,800
Median Income

The Verdict

31.0%

Living in Evansville costs 31.0% less than Fort Collins. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Evansville, you would need $108,750 in Fort Collins.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
142
Fort Collins
Groceries
95
Evansville
100
Fort Collins
Utilities
105
Evansville
87
Fort Collins
Transportation
98
Evansville
108
Fort Collins
Healthcare
105
Evansville
97
Fort Collins

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $108,750 in Fort Collins.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Collins equals $51,724 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Fort Collins

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Fort Collins's 142, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $531,000. The $361,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,460 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,625/mo in Fort Collins, a monthly difference of $775.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 100 in Fort Collins. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $475/month in Fort Collins. 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 87 in Fort Collins. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $348 in Fort Collins. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 97 in Fort Collins. 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 $74,800 in Fort Collins. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $64,483 respectively. Fort Collins 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 $1,745/month in Fort Collins. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 87 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 31.0% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 116.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $108,750 in Fort Collins, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Fort Collins's is 142 with median homes at $531,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases