Evansville vs Rochester
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Rochester
The Verdict
Evansville is 14.9% less expensive than Rochester overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $88,125 in Rochester 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 $88,125 in Rochester.
Conversely, $75,000 in Rochester equals $63,830 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Rochester
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Rochester's 95, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $345,000. The $175,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,376 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,275/mo in Rochester, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 103 in Rochester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $489/month in Rochester. 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 102 in Rochester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $408 in Rochester. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 104 in Rochester. 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 $91,500 in Rochester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $97,340 respectively. Rochester 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 $2,135/month in Rochester. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Rochester, median rent of $1,275/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 40 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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