Evansville, IN vs Muncie, IN: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Muncie, IN is 3.7% less expensive than Evansville, IN (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Evansville works out to about $72,200 in Muncie, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 13.9% less in Muncie. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,043 a month in Muncie and $1,098 in Evansville, $660 a year less in Muncie (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $169,000 in Muncie and $225,000 in Evansville.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (3.5%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 13.9% lower in Muncie than in Evansville
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Evansville, IN
- Muncie, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Evansville, IN | Muncie, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.5 | 88.1 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 94.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 66.7 | 57.5 |
| Utilities | 86.7 | 86.4 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.1 |
| Category | Evansville | Muncie | Muncie vs Evansville |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.5 | 88.1 | −3.7% |
| Goods | 94.3 | 94.3 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 66.7 | 57.5 | −13.9% |
| Utilities | 86.7 | 86.4 | −0.3% |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.1 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,098 | $1,043 | −5.0% |
| Typical home value | $225,000 | $169,000 | −25.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Evansville | $75,000 | $72,200 | −3.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Evansville and Muncie has widened since 2008: 0.0 points then, 3.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Evansville, IN
- Muncie, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Evansville, IN | Muncie, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| 2009 | 94.9 | 91.4 |
| 2010 | 92.9 | 91.6 |
| 2011 | 92.7 | 91.2 |
| 2012 | 93.1 | 90.5 |
| 2013 | 91.8 | 92.1 |
| 2014 | 91.5 | 89.9 |
| 2015 | 91.0 | 88.3 |
| 2016 | 90.9 | 88.6 |
| 2017 | 90.9 | 89.0 |
| 2018 | 90.1 | 91.0 |
| 2019 | 91.6 | 88.5 |
| 2020 | 90.3 | 87.2 |
| 2021 | 90.7 | 89.0 |
| 2022 | 89.5 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 90.0 | 88.7 |
| 2024 | 91.5 | 88.1 |
Goods
- Evansville, IN
- Muncie, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Evansville, IN | Muncie, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2011 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2012 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2013 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2014 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2015 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2016 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2017 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2018 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 93.1 | 93.1 |
| 2023 | 94.8 | 94.8 |
| 2024 | 94.3 | 94.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Evansville, IN
- Muncie, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Evansville, IN | Muncie, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 72.0 | 76.5 |
| 2009 | 78.9 | 66.7 |
| 2010 | 73.0 | 69.9 |
| 2011 | 77.3 | 74.0 |
| 2012 | 75.8 | 67.8 |
| 2013 | 67.2 | 73.2 |
| 2014 | 69.4 | 63.6 |
| 2015 | 68.6 | 62.2 |
| 2016 | 66.8 | 58.3 |
| 2017 | 71.0 | 63.0 |
| 2018 | 60.5 | 69.9 |
| 2019 | 67.7 | 57.6 |
| 2020 | 67.4 | 58.6 |
| 2021 | 63.3 | 60.4 |
| 2022 | 62.3 | 57.3 |
| 2023 | 61.9 | 61.1 |
| 2024 | 66.7 | 57.5 |
Utilities
- Evansville, IN
- Muncie, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Evansville, IN | Muncie, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.1 | 89.9 |
| 2009 | 91.2 | 93.1 |
| 2010 | 84.4 | 83.8 |
| 2011 | 89.0 | 89.6 |
| 2012 | 89.1 | 89.1 |
| 2013 | 89.7 | 89.3 |
| 2014 | 85.1 | 83.6 |
| 2015 | 84.5 | 83.9 |
| 2016 | 81.8 | 81.1 |
| 2017 | 89.5 | 87.9 |
| 2018 | 94.0 | 92.6 |
| 2019 | 90.6 | 89.7 |
| 2020 | 93.0 | 91.3 |
| 2021 | 93.8 | 92.5 |
| 2022 | 88.6 | 87.7 |
| 2023 | 86.8 | 85.5 |
| 2024 | 86.7 | 86.4 |
Other services
- Evansville, IN
- Muncie, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Evansville, IN | Muncie, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2009 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2010 | 98.5 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 95.6 | 95.6 |
| 2012 | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| 2013 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2014 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2015 | 94.6 | 94.6 |
| 2016 | 96.0 | 96.0 |
| 2017 | 94.8 | 94.8 |
| 2018 | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2021 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2022 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2023 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2024 | 99.1 | 99.1 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,043 in Muncie vs $1,098 in Evansville
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Evansville, IN
- Muncie, IN
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Evansville, IN | Muncie, IN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $605 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $618 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $625 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $616 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $625 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $633 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $640 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $647 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $642 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $654 | $580 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $656 | $600 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $665 | $612 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $667 | $599 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $687 | $609 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $688 | $627 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $689 | $648 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $700 | $647 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $711 | $663 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $715 | $649 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $721 | $666 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $736 | $655 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $731 | $675 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $745 | $700 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $759 | $708 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $758 | $723 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $793 | $744 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $839 | $772 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $830 | $801 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $855 | $798 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $861 | $837 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $876 | $835 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $888 | $839 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $904 | $868 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $936 | $860 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $947 | $889 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $953 | $884 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $967 | $906 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,000 | $924 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,010 | $940 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,014 | $951 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,022 | $954 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,044 | $990 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,071 | $988 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,076 | $995 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,093 | $1,005 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,088 | $1,052 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,098 | $1,043 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $169,000 in Muncie vs $225,000 in Evansville
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Evansville, IN
- Muncie, IN
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Evansville, IN | Muncie, IN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $116K | $76K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $117K | $77K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $118K | $77K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $120K | $77K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $121K | $78K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $123K | $79K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $124K | $80K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $126K | $82K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $127K | $83K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $129K | $84K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $129K | $85K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $131K | $86K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $133K | $88K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $135K | $89K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $136K | $91K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $137K | $92K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $139K | $92K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $140K | $93K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $142K | $94K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $144K | $95K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $147K | $97K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $149K | $99K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $152K | $102K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $157K | $108K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $162K | $113K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $169K | $118K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $174K | $122K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $176K | $124K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $183K | $130K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $189K | $134K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $190K | $136K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $190K | $137K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $191K | $138K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $196K | $143K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $200K | $145K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $201K | $144K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $204K | $148K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $207K | $152K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $208K | $153K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $211K | $156K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $214K | $161K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $215K | $161K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $217K | $162K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $220K | $162K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $222K | $166K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $223K | $168K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $225K | $169K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.