Evansville vs Naperville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Naperville
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 28.6%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $105,000 in Naperville.
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 $105,000 in Naperville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Naperville equals $53,571 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Naperville
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Naperville's 130, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $430,000. The $260,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,896 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,800/mo in Naperville, a monthly difference of $950.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 104 in Naperville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $494/month in Naperville. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 99 in Naperville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $396 in Naperville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 101 in Naperville. 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 $118,254 in Naperville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $105,584 respectively. Naperville 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 $2,759/month in Naperville. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 75 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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