Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Providence?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Providence?

Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Evansville vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 22% higher in Providence, RI. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$741

$1,116

+51% in Providence, RI

1 Bedroom

$768

$1,030

+34% in Providence, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,022

$1,323

+29% in Providence, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,167

$1,627

+39% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$129,100

$322,800

+150% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$52,251

$66,772

+28% in Providence, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,540

$53,680

+15% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

32.9 yr

+5.2 yr in Evansville, IN

Homeownership

53.9%

41.2%

+12.7 pp in Evansville, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

34.7%

+12.4 pp in Providence, RI

Avg Commute

18.7 min

25.0 min

+6.3 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,210.5

282.4

+77% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

3,716.2

1,665.6

+55% 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

51.6°F

+4.8°F in Evansville, IN

Annual Precipitation

45.3 in

47.2 in

+1.9 in in Providence, RI

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

29.5

+62% in Providence, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$16.06

+17% in Providence, RI

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 Providence, RI

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Providence, RI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Providence, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Providence, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / RI)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

5.99%

+3.0 pp in RI

Evansville vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Providence?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Providence?: 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 Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Providence?: Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).