Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than El Paso, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 3% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$707
$798
+13% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$816
$782
+4% in El Paso, TX
2 Bedroom
$993
$984
+1% in El Paso, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,100
+12% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$169,700
+1% in El Paso, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$60,293
+3% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$47,700
+21% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
35.0 yr
+0.9 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
60.2%
62.2%
+2.0 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
28.5%
+1.0 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Avg Commute
23.7 min
21.4 min
+2.3 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
308.9
+3% in El Paso, TX
Property Crime
1,509.3
2,245.4
+49% 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
64.6°F
50.5°F
+14.1°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
38.3 in
+28.6 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Fort Wayne, IN

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
18.1
+10% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$13.70
+55% in El Paso, TX

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 El Paso, TX
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 (TX / IN)
6.25%
7%
+0.8 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
2.95%
+3.0 pp in IN

El Paso vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below El Paso, TX's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Fort Wayne?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).