Evansville, IN vs South Bend, IN

Evansville, IN and South Bend, IN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.3% difference in their overall index. Evansville scores 71 while South Bend scores 73 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Evansville is $949/month compared to $1,000/month in South Bend — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Evansville has cheaper rent, South Bend actually has lower median home values ($124,500 vs $129,100).

Median household income in Evansville is $52,251 compared to $52,512 in South Bend (-0.5%). South Bend 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 22.9% in South Bend.