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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Indiana is a genuine bargain: 3 of the 3 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Evansville leads at an index of 85 with rent at just $1,010/month — 47% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Indiana is a genuine bargain: 3 of the 3 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Evansville leads at an index of 85 with rent at just $1,010/month — 47% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Here's Evansville by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 85. Rent: $1,010/month. Income: $52,251/year. Home price: $194,790. Population: 115,332. The strongest category is Housing at 63; the most expensive is Healthcare at 88. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $10,620 per year vs. the national median. Even in a down market, this kind of cost structure protects household budgets.
What you won't find on most comparison sites: The 3 cities we track in Indiana paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 89. Median rent: $1,175/month. Household income: $58,513. Indiana is known for solidly affordable Rust Belt living — and the data backs that reputation convincingly.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Evansville — cost index 85, rent $1,010/mo, income $52,251
2 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
115,332 residents · Indiana
Evansville is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,010/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 85. Income sits at $52,251. That's more or less in line with the region.
269,994 residents · Indiana
Here's Fort Wayne by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 90. Rent: $1,160/month — for better or worse — . Income: $60,293/year. Home price: $238,593. Population: 269,994. The strongest category is Housing at 74; the most expensive is Healthcare at 92. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $8,820 per year vs. the national median. The practical impact: more room for childcare, savings, or just breathing room.
879,293 residents · Indiana
What does daily life actually cost in Indianapolis? Start with the 26% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And for the typical household, on the category level, Housing (index 80) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 95) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $62,995 and homes at $226,528 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evansville | $1,010 | 24% | 85 | Details |
| 2 | Fort Wayne | $1,160 | 28% | 90 | Details |
| 3 | Indianapolis | $1,356 | 33% | 92 | Details |
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Evansville | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $38,597 |
2Fort Wayne | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $38,597 |
3Indianapolis | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $38,597 |
We calculate what percentage of a $50K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Evansville ranks #1 in Indiana for this analysis with a cost index of 85 and median income of $52,251.
Yes. On a $50K salary in Evansville, rent would consume about 24% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Evansville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 85 and rent of $1,010/mo, while Indianapolis (ranked #3) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,356/mo — a 7-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Evansville is $1,010/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $885 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 3.05% state income tax, estimated take-home on $50K in Evansville is approximately $38,597/year ($3,216/month). After median rent of $1,010/month, you'd have roughly $26,477/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Evansville is $194,790, which is 3.7× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Indiana has a 3.05% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.78%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.