Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$970/mo est.

vs
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $970 in Evansville, IN versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 47% higher in Meridian, ID. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio
$741
$1,523
+106% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$768
$1,540
+101% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$1,489
+46% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,893
+62% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$485,000
+276% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$98,686
+89% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$49,100
+6% in Meridian, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
37.4 yr
+0.7 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
76.1%
+22.2 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
44.4%
+22.1 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
18.7 min
22.3 min
+3.6 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
150.3
+88% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
583.5
+84% 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
52.5°F
+3.9°F in Evansville, IN
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
11.7 in
+33.6 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.27/gal
+11% in Meridian, ID

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
14.4
+18% in Evansville, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$11.33
+54% in Evansville, IN

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / ID)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
5.30%
+2.3 pp in ID

Evansville vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Meridian?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Meridian?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Meridian?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).