Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

vs
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,070 in Lexington, KY. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lexington, KY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $67,631 in Lexington, KY — about 23% higher in Lexington, KY. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Lexington, KY

Rent

Studio
$741
$769
+4% in Lexington, KY
1 Bedroom
$768
$887
+15% in Lexington, KY
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$1,119
+9% in Lexington, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,408
+21% in Lexington, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$272,100
+111% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$67,631
+29% in Lexington, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$48,620
+4% in Lexington, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
35.2 yr
+2.9 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
53.6%
+0.3 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
47.3%
+25.0 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
18.7 min
20.8 min
+2.1 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
269.1
+78% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
2,304.4
+38% 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
55.6°F
+0.8°F in Evansville, IN
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
45.2 in
+0.1 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
15.0
+17% in Evansville, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$29.48
+115% in Lexington, KY

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 Lexington, KY
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 / KY)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
3.50%
+0.5 pp in KY

Evansville vs Lexington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Lexington?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Lexington, KY's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Lexington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $35,000 in Lexington.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Lexington?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).