City Comparison

Evansville vs Great Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Great Falls

Montana
88
Below Average
$325,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$55,800
Median Income

The Verdict

9.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 9.1%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $82,500 in Great Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
82
Great Falls
Groceries
95
Evansville
99
Great Falls
Utilities
105
Evansville
90
Great Falls
Transportation
98
Evansville
95
Great Falls
Healthcare
105
Evansville
92
Great Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $82,500 in Great Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $68,182 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Great Falls

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $325,000. The $155,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $470/month in Great Falls. 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 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $360 in Great Falls. 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 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $63,409 respectively. Great Falls 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 $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 9.1% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $82,500 in Great Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Great Falls's is 82 with median homes at $325,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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