Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Juneau?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Juneau?

Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Fort Wayne vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 40% higher in Juneau, AK. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$798

$993

+24% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$782

$1,257

+61% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$984

$1,647

+67% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,949

+77% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$432,500

+155% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$100,513

+67% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

39.8 yr

+4.8 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

62.2%

64.4%

+2.2 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

40.5%

+12.0 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

21.4 min

15.8 min

+5.6 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

515.6

+67% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

2,245.4

2,113.1

+6% in Fort Wayne, 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

42.1°F

+8.4°F in Fort Wayne, IN

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

62.3 in

+23.9 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Juneau, AK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.5

28.2

+61% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.52

$17.35

+29% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Fort Wayne, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Fort Wayne, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / AK)

None

+7.0 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

None

+3.0 pp in IN

Fort Wayne vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Juneau?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Juneau?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).