Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Newark?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Newark?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $39,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Newark?

Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Evansville vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 7% higher in Evansville, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$741

$1,111

+50% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$768

$978

+27% in Newark, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,022

$1,386

+36% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,167

$1,695

+45% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$129,100

$337,800

+162% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$52,251

$48,416

+7% in Evansville, IN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,540

$61,430

+32% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

34.8 yr

+3.3 yr in Evansville, IN

Homeownership

53.9%

24.1%

+29.8 pp in Evansville, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

17.4%

+4.9 pp in Evansville, IN

Avg Commute

18.7 min

33.2 min

+14.5 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,210.5

582.5

+52% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

3,716.2

1,961.8

+47% 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

54.9°F

+1.5°F in Evansville, IN

Annual Precipitation

45.3 in

46.3 in

+0.9 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Evansville, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

23.3

+28% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$15.93

+16% in Newark, NJ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NJ)

6.625%

+0.4 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

10.75%

+7.8 pp in NJ

Evansville vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Newark?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Newark?: Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).