City Comparison

Evansville vs Harrisburg

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Harrisburg

Pennsylvania
90
Below Average
$145,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$46,200
Median Income

The Verdict

11.1%

Evansville is 11.1% less expensive than Harrisburg overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $84,375 in Harrisburg to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
65
Harrisburg
Groceries
95
Evansville
96
Harrisburg
Utilities
105
Evansville
102
Harrisburg
Transportation
98
Evansville
102
Harrisburg
Healthcare
105
Evansville
84
Harrisburg

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $84,375 in Harrisburg.

Conversely, $75,000 in Harrisburg equals $66,667 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Harrisburg

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Harrisburg's 65, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $145,000. The $25,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,100/mo in Harrisburg, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 96 in Harrisburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $456/month in Harrisburg. 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 102 in Harrisburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $408 in Harrisburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 84 in Harrisburg. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-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 $46,200 in Harrisburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $51,333 respectively. Evansville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Evansville vs $1,078/month in Harrisburg. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Harrisburg, median rent of $1,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 11.1% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,375 in Harrisburg, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Harrisburg's is 65 with median homes at $145,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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