City Comparison

Evansville vs Olympia

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Olympia

Washington
112
Above Average
$495,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$81,300
Median Income

The Verdict

28.6%

Evansville is 28.6% less expensive than Olympia overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $105,000 in Olympia to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
131
Olympia
Groceries
95
Evansville
105
Olympia
Utilities
105
Evansville
91
Olympia
Transportation
98
Evansville
129
Olympia
Healthcare
105
Evansville
124
Olympia

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $105,000 in Olympia.

Conversely, $75,000 in Olympia equals $53,571 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Olympia

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Olympia's 131, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $495,000. The $325,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,120 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,600/mo in Olympia, a monthly difference of $750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 105 in Olympia. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $499/month in Olympia. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 91 in Olympia. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $364 in Olympia. 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 124 in Olympia. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-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 $81,300 in Olympia. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $72,589 respectively. Olympia 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 $1,897/month in Olympia. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Olympia, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 76 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 28.6% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $105,000 in Olympia, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Olympia's is 131 with median homes at $495,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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