Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lexington, KY. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lexington, KY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $67,631 in Lexington, KY — about 11% higher in Lexington, KY. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Lexington, KY

Rent

Studio
$798
$769
+4% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$782
$887
+13% in Lexington, KY
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,119
+14% in Lexington, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,408
+28% in Lexington, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$272,100
+60% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$67,631
+12% in Lexington, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$48,620
+2% in Lexington, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
35.2 yr
+0.2 yr in Lexington, KY
Homeownership
62.2%
53.6%
+8.6 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
47.3%
+18.8 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
21.4 min
20.8 min
+0.6 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
269.1
+13% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
2,245.4
2,304.4
+3% in Lexington, KY

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
55.6°F
+5.1°F in Lexington, KY
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
45.2 in
+6.8 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
15.0
+17% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$29.48
+115% in Lexington, KY

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 Lexington, KY
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 / KY)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
3.50%
+0.5 pp in KY

Fort Wayne vs Lexington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Lexington?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Lexington, KY's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Lexington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $35,000 in Lexington.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Lexington?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).