Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 4% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Both cities are in Indiana, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$798
$933
+17% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$782
$963
+23% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,132
+15% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,304
+19% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$207,000
+22% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$62,995
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$49,340
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
34.1 yr
+0.9 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
55.3%
+6.9 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
34.2%
+5.7 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
21.4 min
24.3 min
+2.9 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
936.6
+203% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
2,245.4
3,351.7
+49% in Indianapolis, IN

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
53.2°F
+2.7°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
42.4 in
+4.1 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
18.1
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$13.70
about equal

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 / IN)
7%
7%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
2.95%
about equal

Fort Wayne vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Indianapolis?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Indianapolis?
Neither — both are in Indiana, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).