Evansville vs Tempe
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Tempe
The Verdict
Evansville is 24.5% less expensive than Tempe overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $99,375 in Tempe 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 $99,375 in Tempe.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tempe equals $56,604 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Tempe
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Tempe's 114, 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 $1,600/mo in Tempe, a monthly difference of $750.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 100 in Tempe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $475/month in Tempe. 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 96 in Tempe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $384 in Tempe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 95 in Tempe. 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 $56,068 in Tempe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $52,894 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 $1,308/month in Tempe. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Tempe, 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 59 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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