Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 11% higher in Evansville, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$741
$750
+1% in Rochester, NY
1 Bedroom
$768
$857
+12% in Rochester, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$1,114
+9% in Rochester, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,240
+6% in Rochester, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$120,600
+7% in Evansville, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$46,628
+11% in Evansville, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$51,210
+10% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
33.5 yr
+4.6 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
37.2%
+16.7 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
29.9%
+7.6 pp in Rochester, NY
Avg Commute
18.7 min
18.9 min
+0.2 min in Rochester, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
690
+43% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
3,533.4
+5% 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
48.2°F
+8.2°F in Evansville, IN
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
34.3 in
+11.0 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.04/gal
+3% in Rochester, NY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
29.9
+65% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$22.74
+66% in Rochester, NY

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 Rochester, NY
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Evansville, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Rochester, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Rochester, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NY)
7%
4%
+3.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
10.90%
+8.0 pp in NY

Evansville vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Rochester?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Rochester?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).