Evansville vs Memphis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Evansville
Memphis
💡 The Verdict
Memphis is 5% cheaper than Evansville overall. A $75,000 salary in Evansville is equivalent to $71,591 in Memphis.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Evansville (left) vs Memphis (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Evansville versus Memphis. Differences shown from Evansville perspective.
| Item | Evansville | Memphis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $770/mo | $720/mo | +$50.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,070/mo | $1,000/mo | +$70.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,440/mo | $1,300/mo | +$140.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.25 | $2.40 | $-0.15 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.08 | $3.74 | $-0.66 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.43 | $3.05 | $-0.62 |
| Coffee (latte) | $4.65 | $5.47 | $-0.82 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.13 | $3.29 | $-0.16 |
| Restaurant Meal | $17.91 | $13.90 | +$4.01 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $71,591 in Memphis.
Conversely, $75,000 in Memphis equals $78,571 in Evansville.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $2401 difference is driven by Indiana having a higher state income tax rate. Indiana details → · Tennessee details →
Reading These Numbers: Evansville (88) vs Memphis (84)
Evansville at 88 is 12% below the US average, while Memphis at 84 is 16% below average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Evansville, the composite index of 88 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 80, followed by groceries (81), utilities (71), transportation (89), and healthcare (94). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,070/mo in Evansville and $1,000/mo in Memphis, the annual rent difference is approximately $840.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $4,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $85,000.0 difference in median home prices between Evansville and Memphis translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Evansville vs Memphis
Choosing between Evansville and Memphis involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in Evansville versus Memphis depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.