City Comparison

Evansville vs Morgantown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Morgantown

West Virginia
90
Below Average
$259,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$44,700
Median Income

The Verdict

11.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 11.1%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $84,375 in Morgantown.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
81
Morgantown
Groceries
95
Evansville
95
Morgantown
Utilities
105
Evansville
91
Morgantown
Transportation
98
Evansville
99
Morgantown
Healthcare
105
Evansville
88
Morgantown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $84,375 in Morgantown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $66,667 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Morgantown

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $259,000. The $89,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,784 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $451/month in Morgantown. 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 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $364 in Morgantown. 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 88 in Morgantown. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,600 in Evansville and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $49,667 respectively. Evansville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Evansville vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 11.1% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,375 in Morgantown, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Morgantown's is 81 with median homes at $259,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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