Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Provo?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Provo?

Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Evansville vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Evansville

Indiana

$970/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $970 in Evansville, IN versus $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Provo, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 17% higher in Provo, UT. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$741

$1,009

+36% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$768

$978

+27% in Provo, UT

2 Bedroom

$1,022

$1,128

+10% in Provo, UT

3 Bedroom

$1,167

$1,381

+18% in Provo, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$129,100

$437,100

+239% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$52,251

$62,800

+20% in Provo, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,540

$48,010

+3% in Provo, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

23.7 yr

+14.4 yr in Evansville, IN

Homeownership

53.9%

39.9%

+14.0 pp in Evansville, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

45.0%

+22.7 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

18.7 min

18.5 min

+0.2 min in Evansville, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,210.5

205.7

+83% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

3,716.2

1,280.6

+66% 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

53.4°F

+3.0°F in Evansville, IN

Annual Precipitation

45.3 in

19.8 in

+25.6 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Provo, UT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.5

13.4

+24% in Evansville, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.52

$11.84

+52% in Evansville, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Evansville, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / UT)

6.1%

+0.9 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

4.50%

+1.5 pp in UT

Evansville vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Provo?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Provo?: 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 Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Provo?: Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).