City Comparison

Evansville vs Newark

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Newark

New Jersey
121
Expensive
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$40,014
Median Income

The Verdict

33.9%

Evansville is 33.9% less expensive than Newark overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $113,438 in Newark to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
149
Newark
Groceries
95
Evansville
103
Newark
Utilities
105
Evansville
118
Newark
Transportation
98
Evansville
115
Newark
Healthcare
105
Evansville
105
Newark

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $113,438 in Newark.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newark equals $49,587 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Newark

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Newark's 149, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $340,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,400/mo in Newark, a monthly difference of $550.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 103 in Newark. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $489/month in Newark. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 118 in Newark. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $472 in Newark. 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 105 in Newark. 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 $40,014 in Newark. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $33,069 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 $934/month in Newark. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Newark, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 94 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 33.9% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 121.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $113,438 in Newark, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Newark's is 149 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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