Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

vs
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Wayne, IN, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 6% higher in Grand Forks, ND. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Grand Forks, ND

Rent

Studio
$798
$784
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$782
$761
+3% in Fort Wayne, IN
2 Bedroom
$984
$947
+4% in Fort Wayne, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,371
+25% in Grand Forks, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$243,300
+43% in Grand Forks, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$63,838
+6% in Grand Forks, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$49,760
+4% in Grand Forks, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
29.4 yr
+5.6 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
46.5%
+15.7 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
39.2%
+10.7 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Avg Commute
21.4 min
14.8 min
+6.6 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
360.3
+17% in Grand Forks, ND
Property Crime
2,245.4
2,290.6
+2% in Grand Forks, ND

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.5°F
40.0°F
+10.5°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
20.8 in
+17.5 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
14.1
+19% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$18.21
+26% 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 (IN / ND)
7%
5%
+2.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
2.50%
+0.5 pp in IN

Fort Wayne vs Grand Forks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Grand Forks?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Fort Wayne, IN's $980, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Grand Forks?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Grand Forks?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Grand Forks under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).