City Comparison

Evansville vs Jackson

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Jackson

Mississippi
82
Very Affordable
$125,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$36,528
Median Income

The Verdict

2.4%

Evansville is 2.4% less expensive than Jackson overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $76,875 in Jackson to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
56
Jackson
Groceries
95
Evansville
95
Jackson
Utilities
105
Evansville
86
Jackson
Transportation
98
Evansville
97
Jackson
Healthcare
105
Evansville
88
Jackson

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $76,875 in Jackson.

Conversely, $75,000 in Jackson equals $73,171 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Jackson

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Jackson's 56, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $125,000. The $45,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,928 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $900/mo in Jackson, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 95 in Jackson. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $451/month in Jackson. 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 86 in Jackson. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $344 in Jackson. 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 88 in Jackson. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-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 $36,528 in Jackson. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $44,546 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 $852/month in Jackson. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Jackson, median rent of $900/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 2.4% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 82.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $76,875 in Jackson, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Jackson's is 56 with median homes at $125,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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