City Comparison

Evansville vs Fort Lauderdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Fort Lauderdale

Florida
122
Expensive
$380,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$54,468
Median Income

The Verdict

34.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 34.4%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $114,375 in Fort Lauderdale.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
155
Fort Lauderdale
Groceries
95
Evansville
106
Fort Lauderdale
Utilities
105
Evansville
96
Fort Lauderdale
Transportation
98
Evansville
108
Fort Lauderdale
Healthcare
105
Evansville
99
Fort Lauderdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $114,375 in Fort Lauderdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Lauderdale equals $49,180 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Fort Lauderdale

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Fort Lauderdale's 155, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $380,000. The $210,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,656 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale, a monthly difference of $1,150.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 96 in Fort Lauderdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $384 in Fort Lauderdale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 99 in Fort Lauderdale. 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 $54,468 in Fort Lauderdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $44,646 respectively. Evansville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Evansville vs $1,271/month in Fort Lauderdale. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 100 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 34.4% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $114,375 in Fort Lauderdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Fort Lauderdale's is 155 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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