Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Reno?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Reno?

Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Evansville vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 33% higher in Reno, NV. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$741

$964

+30% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$768

$1,206

+57% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,022

$1,518

+49% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,167

$1,885

+62% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$129,100

$498,600

+286% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$52,251

$78,448

+50% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,540

$49,660

+7% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.3 yr

+0.8 yr in Evansville, IN

Homeownership

53.9%

49.4%

+4.5 pp in Evansville, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

35.7%

+13.4 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

18.7 min

20.6 min

+1.9 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,210.5

528.9

+56% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

3,716.2

2,489.3

+33% 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

53.8°F

+2.6°F in Evansville, IN

Annual Precipitation

45.3 in

7.4 in

+37.9 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Reno, NV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

13.6

+25% in Evansville, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$12.09

+12% in Evansville, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Evansville, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NV)

6.85%

+0.2 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

None

+3.0 pp in IN

Evansville vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Reno?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Reno?: Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).