Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

vs
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 17% higher in Evansville, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio
$741
$1,085
+46% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$768
$816
+6% in Jackson, MS
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$991
+3% in Evansville, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,121
+4% in Evansville, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$108,200
+16% in Evansville, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$43,238
+17% in Evansville, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$42,850
+8% in Evansville, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
34.7 yr
+3.4 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
48.6%
+5.3 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
28.6%
+6.3 pp in Jackson, MS
Avg Commute
18.7 min
20.2 min
+1.5 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
—
Property Crime
3,716.2
—

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
65.3°F
+8.9°F in Jackson, MS
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
54.3 in
+9.0 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Evansville, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
16.2
+11% in Evansville, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$27.68
+102% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Evansville, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Jackson, MS
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Evansville, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Evansville, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Evansville, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / MS)
7%
7%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.00%
+1.0 pp in MS

Evansville vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Jackson?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Jackson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Jackson?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).