Evansville vs Winston-Salem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Evansville
Winston-Salem
The Verdict
Evansville is 4.8% less expensive than Winston-Salem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $78,750 in Winston-Salem 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 $78,750 in Winston-Salem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $71,429 in Evansville.
Living in Evansville vs Winston-Salem
Housing Costs
Evansville's housing index of 55 is lower Winston-Salem's 63, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $250,000. The $80,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,196 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $200.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. 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 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Evansville and 103 in Winston-Salem. 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 $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $62,619 respectively. Winston-Salem 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 $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Winston-Salem, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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