Living Cost Compare
Fargo

North Dakota

$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 Fargo, ND versus $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Wayne, IN, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,029 in Fargo, ND and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 9% higher in Fargo, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fargo, ND
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$671
$798
+19% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$804
$782
+3% in Fargo, ND
2 Bedroom
$956
$984
+3% in Fort Wayne, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,368
$1,100
+20% in Fargo, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$269,800
$169,700
+37% in Fargo, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$66,029
$60,293
+9% in Fargo, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,050
$47,700
+7% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
35.0 yr
+2.8 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
44.1%
62.2%
+18.1 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.2%
28.5%
+14.7 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
15.8 min
21.4 min
+5.6 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
504.9
308.9
+39% in Fargo, ND
Property Crime
3,726.4
2,245.4
+40% in Fargo, ND

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
42.4°F
50.5°F
+8.1°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
22.6 in
38.3 in
+15.8 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
18.1
+33% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.39
$13.70
+20% in Fort Wayne, IN

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 (ND / IN)
5%
7%
+2.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
2.95%
+0.5 pp in IN

Fargo vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fargo or Fort Wayne?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fort Wayne, IN's $960, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fargo than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Fargo versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Fargo or Fort Wayne?
Fargo is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).