City Comparison

Evansville vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

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

Wilmington

Delaware
104
Average
$235,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$46,520
Median Income

The Verdict

23.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 23.1%, with Evansville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to $97,500 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
104
Wilmington
Groceries
95
Evansville
103
Wilmington
Utilities
105
Evansville
106
Wilmington
Transportation
98
Evansville
103
Wilmington
Healthcare
105
Evansville
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $97,500 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $57,692 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Wilmington's 104, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $235,000. The $65,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,224 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,200/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 103 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $489/month in Wilmington. Evansville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Evansville and 106 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $424 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 106 in Wilmington. 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 $46,520 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $44,731 respectively. Evansville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Evansville vs $1,085/month in Wilmington. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 49 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 23.1% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 104.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $97,500 in Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Wilmington's is 104 with median homes at $235,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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