Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 15% higher in Huntsville, AL. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$798
$815
+2% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$782
$900
+15% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,080
+10% in Huntsville, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,251
+14% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$263,100
+55% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$70,778
+17% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$51,740
+8% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
36.4 yr
+1.4 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
62.2%
58.1%
+4.1 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
46.2%
+17.7 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
21.4 min
19.3 min
+2.1 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
483.2
+56% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,245.4
2,395.7
+7% in Huntsville, AL

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
62.1°F
+11.6°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
54.3 in
+16.0 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Fort Wayne, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
16.4
+6% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$24.06
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Huntsville, AL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / AL)
7%
4%
+3.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
5.00%
+2.0 pp in AL

Fort Wayne vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Huntsville?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Huntsville?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).