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

North Carolina
103
Average
$320,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$48,432
Median Income

The Verdict

22.3%

Living in Evansville costs 22.3% less than Wilmington. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Evansville, you would need $96,563 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Evansville
108
Wilmington
Groceries
95
Evansville
101
Wilmington
Utilities
105
Evansville
94
Wilmington
Transportation
98
Evansville
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
105
Evansville
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $96,563 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $58,252 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $320,000. The $150,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,756 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $550.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $480/month in Wilmington. 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 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $376 in Wilmington. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

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 $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $47,021 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 $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 53 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evansville is 22.3% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $96,563 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 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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