City Comparison

Evansville vs Santa Fe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Santa Fe

New Mexico
117
Above Average
$480,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$61,982
Median Income

The Verdict

31.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 31.6%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $109,688 in Santa Fe.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
153
Santa Fe
Groceries
95
Evansville
103
Santa Fe
Utilities
105
Evansville
96
Santa Fe
Transportation
98
Evansville
99
Santa Fe
Healthcare
105
Evansville
95
Santa Fe

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $109,688 in Santa Fe.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $51,282 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Santa Fe

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $480,000. The $310,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,148 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $489/month in Santa Fe. 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 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 95 in Santa Fe. 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 $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $52,976 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 $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Santa Fe, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 98 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 31.6% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $109,688 in Santa Fe, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Santa Fe's is 153 with median homes at $480,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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