Evansville vs Surprise
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Surprise
The Verdict
Evansville is 22.3% less expensive than Surprise overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $96,563 in Surprise 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 $96,563 in Surprise.
Conversely, $75,000 in Surprise equals $58,252 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Surprise
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Surprise's 105, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $419,000. The $249,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,188 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,575/mo in Surprise, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 100 in Surprise. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $475/month in Surprise. 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 Surprise. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $408 in Surprise. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 97 in Surprise. 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 $85,500 in Surprise. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $83,010 respectively. Surprise 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 $1,995/month in Surprise. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Surprise, median rent of $1,575/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 50 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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