Evansville vs Hilo
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Hilo
The Verdict
Evansville is 39.4% less expensive than Hilo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $123,750 in Hilo to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $123,750 in Hilo.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hilo equals $45,455 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Hilo
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Hilo's 149, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $555,000. The $385,000 difference in home prices means roughly $25,020 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,575/mo in Hilo, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 149 in Hilo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $708/month in Hilo. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $3084/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 218 in Hilo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $872 in Hilo. 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 118 in Hilo. 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 $78,700 in Hilo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $59,621 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 $1,836/month in Hilo. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Hilo, median rent of $1,575/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 113 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases