Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 26% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$798
+52% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$782
+50% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$984
+42% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,100
+29% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$169,700
+60% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$60,293
+26% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$47,700
+7% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
35.0 yr
+1.0 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
46.3%
62.2%
+15.9 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
28.5%
+29.9 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
21.4 min
+5.4 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
308.9
+49% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
2,245.4
+37% in Atlanta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
50.5°F
+12.1°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
38.3 in
+11.4 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
18.1
+15% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$13.70
+59% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Atlanta, GA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / IN)
4%
7%
+3.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
2.95%
+2.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Fort Wayne?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).