City Comparison

Evansville vs Stockton

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Stockton

California
114
Above Average
$400,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$54,658
Median Income

The Verdict

29.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 29.8%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $106,875 in Stockton.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
126
Stockton
Groceries
95
Evansville
101
Stockton
Utilities
105
Evansville
108
Stockton
Transportation
98
Evansville
111
Stockton
Healthcare
105
Evansville
101
Stockton

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $106,875 in Stockton.

Conversely, $75,000 in Stockton equals $52,632 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Stockton

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Stockton's 126, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $400,000. The $230,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,952 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,500/mo in Stockton, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 101 in Stockton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $480/month in Stockton. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 108 in Stockton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $432 in Stockton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 101 in Stockton. 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 $54,658 in Stockton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $47,946 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 $1,275/month in Stockton. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Stockton, median rent of $1,500/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 29.8% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 114.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $106,875 in Stockton, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Stockton's is 126 with median homes at $400,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases