Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$970/mo est.

vs
Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $970 in Evansville, IN versus $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK — about 28% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Fairbanks, AK

Rent

Studio
$741
$883
+19% in Fairbanks, AK
1 Bedroom
$768
$1,076
+40% in Fairbanks, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$1,428
+40% in Fairbanks, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$2,019
+73% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$255,700
+98% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$72,077
+38% in Fairbanks, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$61,810
+33% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
28.6 yr
+9.5 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
40.5%
+13.4 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
26.5%
+4.2 pp in Fairbanks, AK
Avg Commute
18.7 min
14.1 min
+4.6 min in Evansville, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
726.1
+40% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
3,504.2
+6% 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
56.4°F
27.7°F
+28.7°F in Evansville, IN
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
10.8 in
+34.5 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.21/gal
+35% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
28.2
+61% in Fairbanks, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$17.35
+29% in Evansville, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Fairbanks, AK
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Fairbanks, AK
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Evansville, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Fairbanks, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Evansville, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / AK)
7%
None
+7.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
None
+3.0 pp in IN

Evansville vs Fairbanks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Fairbanks?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Fairbanks?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $43,000 in Fairbanks.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Fairbanks?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Fairbanks under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).