Evansville, IN vs Lafayette, IN

Evansville is moderately more affordable than Lafayette, with a 7.3% lower cost of living index. Evansville scores 71 compared to 76 for Lafayette, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lafayette can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Evansville is $949/month compared to $1,039/month in Lafayette — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Evansville is more affordable at $129,100 median vs $157,600.

Median household income in Evansville is $52,251 compared to $52,946 in Lafayette (-1.3%). Lafayette does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Evansville spend roughly 21.8% of their income on rent, less than the 23.5% in Lafayette.