Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Evansville

Indiana

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $970 in Evansville, IN. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $52,251 in Evansville, IN — about 6% higher in Columbia, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Evansville, IN

Rent

Studio
$802
$741
+8% in Columbia, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$768
+25% in Columbia, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,022
+12% in Columbia, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,167
+13% in Columbia, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$129,100
+47% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$52,251
+6% in Columbia, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$46,540
+0% in Evansville, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
38.1 yr
+9.4 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
47.3%
53.9%
+6.6 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
22.3%
+23.8 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
18.7 min
+1.3 min in Evansville, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
1,210.5
+57% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,265.1
3,716.2
+14% in Evansville, IN

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.9°F
56.4°F
+8.5°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
45.3 in
+0.1 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Columbia, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
17.5
+13% in Evansville, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$24.52
+16% in Columbia, SC

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Evansville, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Columbia, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Evansville, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Evansville, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Evansville, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / IN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
2.95%
+3.0 pp in SC

Columbia vs Evansville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Evansville?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Evansville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $31,000 in Evansville.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Evansville?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Evansville under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).