City Comparison

Evansville vs Sioux Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Sioux Falls

South Dakota
93
Below Average
$265,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$61,714
Median Income

The Verdict

14.0%

Evansville is 14.0% less expensive than Sioux Falls overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $87,188 in Sioux Falls to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
80
Sioux Falls
Groceries
95
Evansville
97
Sioux Falls
Utilities
105
Evansville
94
Sioux Falls
Transportation
98
Evansville
98
Sioux Falls
Healthcare
105
Evansville
101
Sioux Falls

Salary Equivalence

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

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux Falls equals $64,516 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Sioux Falls

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Sioux Falls's 80, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $265,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 97 in Sioux Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $461/month in Sioux Falls. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 94 in Sioux Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $376 in Sioux Falls. 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 101 in Sioux Falls. 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 $61,714 in Sioux Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $66,359 respectively. Sioux Falls 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 $1,440/month in Sioux Falls. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Sioux Falls, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 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 Sioux Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Sioux Falls's is 80 with median homes at $265,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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