Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 6% higher in New Orleans, LA. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$741
$953
+29% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$768
$1,019
+33% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$1,287
+26% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,392
+19% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$296,400
+130% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$55,339
+6% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$47,290
+2% in New Orleans, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
38.4 yr
+0.3 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
53.9%
50.5%
+3.4 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
42.0%
+19.7 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
18.7 min
22.7 min
+4.0 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
1,361.1
+12% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,716.2
5,089.6
+37% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+14.2°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
62.3 in
+17.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
14.2
+22% in Evansville, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$16.62
+21% in New Orleans, LA

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 New Orleans, LA
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 / LA)
7%
5%
+2.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
3.00%
+0.0 pp in LA

Evansville vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or New Orleans?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or New Orleans?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% 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).