City Comparison

Evansville vs Jacksonville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Jacksonville

Florida
95
Below Average
$280,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$53,025
Median Income

The Verdict

15.8%

Living in Evansville costs 15.8% less than Jacksonville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Evansville, you would need $89,063 in Jacksonville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
89
Jacksonville
Groceries
95
Evansville
101
Jacksonville
Utilities
105
Evansville
94
Jacksonville
Transportation
98
Evansville
103
Jacksonville
Healthcare
105
Evansville
95
Jacksonville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $89,063 in Jacksonville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Jacksonville equals $63,158 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Jacksonville

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Jacksonville's 89, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $280,000. The $110,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,152 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,400/mo in Jacksonville, a monthly difference of $550.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 101 in Jacksonville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $480/month in Jacksonville. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 94 in Jacksonville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $376 in Jacksonville. 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 95 in Jacksonville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-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 $53,025 in Jacksonville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $55,816 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 $1,237/month in Jacksonville. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Jacksonville, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 34 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 15.8% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $89,063 in Jacksonville, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Jacksonville's is 89 with median homes at $280,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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