City Comparison

Evansville vs Manchester

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Manchester

New Hampshire
118
Above Average
$350,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$65,018
Median Income

The Verdict

32.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 32.2%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $110,625 in Manchester.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
140
Manchester
Groceries
95
Evansville
105
Manchester
Utilities
105
Evansville
114
Manchester
Transportation
98
Evansville
100
Manchester
Healthcare
105
Evansville
112
Manchester

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $110,625 in Manchester.

Conversely, $75,000 in Manchester equals $50,847 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Manchester

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Manchester's 140, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $350,000. The $180,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,700 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,600/mo in Manchester, a monthly difference of $750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 105 in Manchester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $499/month in Manchester. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 114 in Manchester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $456 in Manchester. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 112 in Manchester. 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 $65,018 in Manchester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $55,100 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 $1,517/month in Manchester. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Manchester, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 85 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 32.2% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 118.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $110,625 in Manchester, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Manchester's is 140 with median homes at $350,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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