City Comparison

Evansville vs Sterling Heights

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Sterling Heights

Michigan
98
Average
$300,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$70,100
Median Income

The Verdict

18.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 18.4%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $91,875 in Sterling Heights.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
87
Sterling Heights
Groceries
95
Evansville
99
Sterling Heights
Utilities
105
Evansville
102
Sterling Heights
Transportation
98
Evansville
107
Sterling Heights
Healthcare
105
Evansville
93
Sterling Heights

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $91,875 in Sterling Heights.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sterling Heights equals $61,224 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Sterling Heights

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Sterling Heights's 87, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $300,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,175/mo in Sterling Heights, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 99 in Sterling Heights. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $470/month in Sterling Heights. 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 102 in Sterling Heights. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $408 in Sterling Heights. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 93 in Sterling Heights. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-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 $70,100 in Sterling Heights. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $71,531 respectively. Sterling Heights 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 $1,636/month in Sterling Heights. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Sterling Heights, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 32 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 18.4% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 98.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,875 in Sterling Heights, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Sterling Heights's is 87 with median homes at $300,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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