Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 8% higher in Columbus, OH. 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.

Columbus, OH
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$798
+21% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$782
+26% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$984
+23% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,100
+20% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$169,700
+28% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$60,293
+8% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$47,700
+7% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.0 yr
+2.0 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
44.3%
62.2%
+17.9 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
28.5%
+9.7 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
21.8 min
21.4 min
+0.4 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
308.9
+36% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,093.9
2,245.4
+27% in Columbus, 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 Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
38.3 in
+1.8 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

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

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

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

Columbus vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Fort Wayne?
Columbus 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).