Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

vs
San Diego

California

$2,210/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 57% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 50% higher in San Diego, CA. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$741
$1,737
+134% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$768
$1,883
+145% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$2,348
+130% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$2,818
+141% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$848,500
+557% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$104,321
+100% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$58,690
+26% in San Diego, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
36.0 yr
+2.1 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
47.6%
+6.3 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
49.9%
+27.6 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
18.7 min
23.9 min
+5.2 min in San Diego, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
414.3
+66% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
1,693.6
+54% 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
63.6°F
+7.2°F in San Diego, CA
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
10.3 in
+35.0 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.40/gal
+37% in San Diego, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs MTS (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
33.3
+83% in San Diego, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$20.72
+51% in San Diego, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in San Diego, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in San Diego, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Evansville, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in San Diego, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Evansville, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in San Diego, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / CA)
7%
7.25%
+0.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
13.30%
+10.4 pp in CA

Evansville vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or San Diego?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 57% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or San Diego?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); San Diego under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).