Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

vs
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $940 in Fargo, ND. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Evansville, IN, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $66,029 in Fargo, ND — about 21% higher in Fargo, ND. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Fargo, ND

Rent

Studio
$741
$671
+9% in Evansville, IN
1 Bedroom
$768
$804
+5% in Fargo, ND
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$956
+6% in Evansville, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,368
+17% in Fargo, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$269,800
+109% in Fargo, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$66,029
+26% in Fargo, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$51,050
+10% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
32.2 yr
+5.9 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
44.1%
+9.8 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
43.2%
+20.9 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
18.7 min
15.8 min
+2.9 min in Evansville, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
504.9
+58% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
3,726.4
+0% in Fargo, ND

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
42.4°F
+14.0°F in Evansville, IN
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
22.6 in
+22.7 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
13.6
+25% in Evansville, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$11.39
+17% in Evansville, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / ND)
7%
5%
+2.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
2.50%
+0.5 pp in IN

Evansville vs Fargo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Fargo?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Evansville, IN's $950, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Fargo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $32,000 in Fargo.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Fargo?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Fargo under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).