Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $980 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 8% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$802
$798
+0% in Columbia, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$782
+24% in Columbia, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$984
+15% in Columbia, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,100
+18% in Columbia, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$169,700
+30% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$60,293
+8% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$47,700
+3% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
35.0 yr
+6.3 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
47.3%
62.2%
+14.9 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
28.5%
+17.6 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
21.4 min
+4.0 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
308.9
+60% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,265.1
2,245.4
+31% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.9°F
50.5°F
+14.4°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
38.3 in
+7.1 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Columbia, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
17.5
+13% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$24.52
+16% in Columbia, SC

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 Columbia, SC
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 (SC / IN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
2.95%
+3.0 pp in SC

Columbia vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Fort Wayne?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).