Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 31% higher in Portland, ME. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$741
$1,038
+40% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$768
$1,331
+73% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$1,664
+63% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,919
+64% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$452,600
+251% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$76,174
+46% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$56,960
+22% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
37.5 yr
+0.6 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
46.7%
+7.2 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
59.2%
+36.9 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
18.7 min
19.9 min
+1.2 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
272.7
+77% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
2,513.3
+32% 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
46.5°F
+9.9°F in Evansville, IN
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
47.3 in
+1.9 in in Portland, ME

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
28.6
+58% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$21.00
+53% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Evansville, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / ME)
7%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
7.15%
+4.2 pp in ME

Evansville vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Portland?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Portland?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).