Evansville vs Portland
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Portland
The Verdict
Evansville is 31.6% less expensive than Portland overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $109,688 in Portland to maintain the same standard of living.
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 $109,688 in Portland.
Conversely, $75,000 in Portland equals $51,282 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Portland
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Portland's 137, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $395,000. The $225,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,628 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,700/mo in Portland, a monthly difference of $850.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 107 in Portland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $508/month in Portland. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 111 in Portland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $444 in Portland. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 110 in Portland. 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 $56,895 in Portland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $48,628 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 $1,328/month in Portland. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Portland, median rent of $1,700/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 82 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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