City Comparison

Evansville vs Virginia Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Virginia Beach

Virginia
105
Average
$310,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$73,418
Median Income

The Verdict

23.8%

Living in Evansville costs 23.8% less than Virginia Beach. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Evansville, you would need $98,438 in Virginia Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
112
Virginia Beach
Groceries
95
Evansville
100
Virginia Beach
Utilities
105
Evansville
98
Virginia Beach
Transportation
98
Evansville
101
Virginia Beach
Healthcare
105
Evansville
99
Virginia Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $98,438 in Virginia Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $57,143 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Virginia Beach

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $310,000. The $140,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,096 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $475/month in Virginia Beach. 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 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 99 in Virginia Beach. 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 $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $69,922 respectively. Virginia Beach 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 $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Virginia Beach, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 23.8% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $98,438 in Virginia Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Virginia Beach's is 112 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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