Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 56% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 51% higher in Washington, DC. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$741
$1,763
+138% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$768
$1,885
+145% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$1,949
+91% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$2,249
+93% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$724,600
+461% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$106,287
+103% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$71,060
+53% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
34.9 yr
+3.2 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
41.1%
+12.8 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
63.6%
+41.3 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
18.7 min
30.3 min
+11.6 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
936.3
+23% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
3,627.9
+2% 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
58.2°F
+1.8°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
39.7 in
+5.6 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).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
25.4
+40% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$22.01
+61% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
10.75%
+7.8 pp in DC

Evansville vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Washington?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Washington?
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 Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Washington?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).