Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Jackson?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Jackson?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $33,000 in Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Jackson?

Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Fort Wayne vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/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 $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 28% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$798

$1,085

+36% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$782

$816

+4% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$984

$991

+1% in Jackson, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,121

+2% in Jackson, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$108,200

+36% in Fort Wayne, IN

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$43,238

+28% in Fort Wayne, IN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

$42,850

+10% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

34.7 yr

+0.3 yr in Fort Wayne, IN

Homeownership

62.2%

48.6%

+13.6 pp in Fort Wayne, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

28.6%

+0.1 pp in Jackson, MS

Avg Commute

21.4 min

20.2 min

+1.2 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

—

Property Crime

2,245.4

—

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

65.3°F

+14.8°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

54.3 in

+16.0 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

16.2

+11% in Fort Wayne, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$27.68

+102% in Jackson, MS

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 Jackson, MS

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / MS)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

4.00%

+1.0 pp in MS

Fort Wayne vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Jackson?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Jackson?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).