Evansville vs Knoxville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Knoxville
The Verdict
Evansville is 9.1% less expensive than Knoxville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $82,500 in Knoxville 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 $82,500 in Knoxville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Knoxville equals $68,182 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Knoxville
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Knoxville's 73, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $240,000. The $70,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,548 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,100/mo in Knoxville, a monthly difference of $250.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 94 in Knoxville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $447/month in Knoxville. 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 Knoxville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $360 in Knoxville. 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 93 in Knoxville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-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 $42,898 in Knoxville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $48,748 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 $1,001/month in Knoxville. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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