City Comparison

Evansville vs Pittsburgh

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania
93
Below Average
$195,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$52,536
Median Income

The Verdict

14.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 14.0%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $87,188 in Pittsburgh.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
79
Pittsburgh
Groceries
95
Evansville
101
Pittsburgh
Utilities
105
Evansville
100
Pittsburgh
Transportation
98
Evansville
108
Pittsburgh
Healthcare
105
Evansville
95
Pittsburgh

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $87,188 in Pittsburgh.

Conversely, $75,000 in Pittsburgh equals $64,516 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Pittsburgh

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Pittsburgh's 79, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $195,000. The $25,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,100/mo in Pittsburgh, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 101 in Pittsburgh. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $480/month in Pittsburgh. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 100 in Pittsburgh. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $400 in Pittsburgh. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 95 in Pittsburgh. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-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 $52,536 in Pittsburgh. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $56,490 respectively. Evansville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Evansville vs $1,226/month in Pittsburgh. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Pittsburgh, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 14.0% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $87,188 in Pittsburgh, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Pittsburgh's is 79 with median homes at $195,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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