Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Bridgeport, CT versus $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 6% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$950
$798
+16% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$782
+34% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$984
+35% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,100
+33% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$169,700
+33% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$60,293
+7% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$47,700
+22% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.0 yr
+1.4 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
62.2%
+18.9 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
28.5%
+5.4 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Avg Commute
29.9 min
21.4 min
+8.5 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
308.9
+23% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
1,478.4
2,245.4
+52% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
50.5°F
+2.0°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
38.3 in
+4.4 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
18.1
+34% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$13.70
+41% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Bridgeport, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Bridgeport, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Bridgeport, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / IN)
6.35%
7%
+0.7 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
2.95%
+4.0 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Fort Wayne?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).