City Comparison

Evansville vs Manhattan

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Manhattan

New York
235
Very Expensive
$1.1M
Median Home
$4,200/mo
Median Rent
$93,651
Median Income

The Verdict

66.0%

Living in Evansville costs 66.0% less than Manhattan. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Evansville, you would need $220,313 in Manhattan.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
421
Manhattan
Groceries
95
Evansville
115
Manhattan
Utilities
105
Evansville
142
Manhattan
Transportation
98
Evansville
94
Manhattan
Healthcare
105
Evansville
112
Manhattan

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $220,313 in Manhattan.

Conversely, $75,000 in Manhattan equals $25,532 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Manhattan

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Manhattan's 421, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $1.1M. The $980,000 difference in home prices means roughly $63,696 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $4,200/mo in Manhattan, a monthly difference of $3,350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 115 in Manhattan. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $546/month in Manhattan. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1140/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 142 in Manhattan. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $568 in Manhattan. 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 112 in Manhattan. 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 $93,651 in Manhattan. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $39,851 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 $2,185/month in Manhattan. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Manhattan, median rent of $4,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 366 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 66.0% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 235.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $220,313 in Manhattan, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Manhattan's is 421 with median homes at $1.1M.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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