Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Wayne, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 35% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$678
$798
+18% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$732
$782
+7% in Fort Wayne, IN
2 Bedroom
$903
$984
+9% in Fort Wayne, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,100
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$169,700
+80% in Fort Wayne, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$60,293
+54% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$47,700
+5% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
35.0 yr
+1.3 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
62.2%
+21.0 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
28.5%
+7.2 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Avg Commute
22.9 min
21.4 min
+1.5 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
308.9
+80% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
2,245.4
+50% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
50.5°F
+2.2°F in Cleveland, OH
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
38.3 in
+2.0 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.94/gal
+6% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
18.1
+7% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$13.70
+40% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / IN)
5.75%
7%
+1.3 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
2.95%
+0.2 pp in IN

Cleveland vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Fort Wayne?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fort Wayne, IN's $960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Fort Wayne?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).