Evansville vs Madison
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Madison
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 24.5%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $99,375 in Madison.
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 $99,375 in Madison.
Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $56,604 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Madison
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $340,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $550.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $480/month in Madison. 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 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 105 in Madison. 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 $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $63,741 respectively. Madison 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 $1,577/month in Madison. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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