City Comparison

Evansville vs Lincoln

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Lincoln

Nebraska
93
Below Average
$264,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$71,900
Median Income

The Verdict

14.0%

Evansville is 14.0% less expensive than Lincoln overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $87,188 in Lincoln to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
77
Lincoln
Groceries
95
Evansville
98
Lincoln
Utilities
105
Evansville
93
Lincoln
Transportation
98
Evansville
97
Lincoln
Healthcare
105
Evansville
102
Lincoln

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $87,188 in Lincoln.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lincoln equals $64,516 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Lincoln

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $264,000. The $94,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,108 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $466/month in Lincoln. 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 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $372 in Lincoln. 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 102 in Lincoln. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,600 in Evansville and $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $77,312 respectively. Lincoln residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Evansville vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 14.0% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $87,188 in Lincoln, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Lincoln's is 77 with median homes at $264,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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