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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.
| Rank | City | Utilities Index | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evansville | 78 | 85 | $1,010 | Details |
| 2 | Fort Wayne | 82 | 90 | $1,160 | Details |
| 3 | Indianapolis | 85 | 92 | $1,356 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Evansville — cost index 85, rent $1,010/mo, income $52,251
Evansville rent up 6% over the past year
3 of 3 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 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.
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. No major red flags in that number.
The broader context shifts things: State context matters: Indiana's 3 cities average a 89 cost index with $1,175/month median rent and $58,513 household income. Solidly affordable Rust Belt living. Below, we isolate the healthcare number — it's the wild card.
Bottom line: Evansville leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. That tracks. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
115,332 residents · Indiana
The way we see it, Why Evansville ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 85 on the cost index, residents save roughly 27% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,010/month while the median household pulls in $52,251/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 63, though Healthcare (88) lags behind. Home prices average $194,790 — $272,580 below the national median.
269,994 residents · Indiana
What does daily life actually cost in Fort Wayne? Start with the 23% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 74) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 92) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $60,293 — we had to double-check this one — and homes at $238,593 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes). The math checks out.
879,293 residents · Indiana
Indianapolis earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 92 cost index sits 20 points below the national baseline, and the $62,995 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $226,528 — $240,842 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 80, while Healthcare trails at 95. Worth a deeper look.
Evansville ranks #1 in Indiana for this analysis with a cost index of 85 and median income of $52,251.
Evansville, IN has the lowest utilities index at 78, compared to the national average of 100.
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.
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.