Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 17% higher in Richmond, VA. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$741
$1,183
+60% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$768
$1,195
+56% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$1,374
+34% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,447
+24% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$328,100
+154% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$62,671
+20% in Richmond, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$51,460
+11% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
34.5 yr
+3.6 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
43.5%
+10.4 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
44.1%
+21.8 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
18.7 min
22.1 min
+3.4 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
349
+71% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
3,240.2
+13% 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
58.9°F
+2.5°F in Richmond, VA
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
43.6 in
+1.7 in in Evansville, IN

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
17.6
+3% in Evansville, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$23.66
+73% in Richmond, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Evansville, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Richmond, VA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Evansville, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Evansville, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Evansville, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / VA)
7%
5.3%
+1.7 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
5.75%
+2.8 pp in VA

Evansville vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Richmond?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Richmond?
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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Richmond?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).