Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Tacoma?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $53,000 in Tacoma.

Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Tacoma?

Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Evansville vs Tacoma Cost of Living 2026

Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tacoma, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 38% higher in Tacoma, WA. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN

Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio

$741

$1,178

+59% in Tacoma, WA

1 Bedroom

$768

$1,332

+73% in Tacoma, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,022

$1,693

+66% in Tacoma, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,167

$2,094

+79% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$129,100

$454,600

+252% in Tacoma, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$52,251

$83,857

+60% in Tacoma, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,540

$72,610

+56% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.3 yr

+0.8 yr in Evansville, IN

Homeownership

53.9%

56.5%

+2.6 pp in Tacoma, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

33.5%

+11.2 pp in Tacoma, WA

Avg Commute

18.7 min

29.0 min

+10.3 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,210.5

1,064.4

+12% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

3,716.2

5,695.2

+53% in Tacoma, WA

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

52.1°F

+4.3°F in Evansville, IN

Annual Precipitation

45.3 in

43.0 in

+2.3 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.12/gal

+30% in Tacoma, WA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

14.9

+18% in Evansville, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$20.41

+49% in Tacoma, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Tacoma, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Tacoma, WA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Tacoma, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Evansville, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Tacoma, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / WA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

None

+3.0 pp in IN

Evansville vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Tacoma?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Tacoma?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Tacoma?: Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).