Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 14% higher in Lincoln, NE. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$798
$851
+7% in Lincoln, NE
1 Bedroom
$782
$879
+12% in Lincoln, NE
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,070
+9% in Lincoln, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,379
+25% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$248,200
+46% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$69,991
+16% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$49,800
+4% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
33.4 yr
+1.6 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
55.8%
+6.4 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
41.0%
+12.5 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
21.4 min
18.3 min
+3.1 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
363.1
+18% in Lincoln, NE
Property Crime
2,245.4
2,484.4
+11% in Lincoln, NE

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
51.5°F
+1.0°F in Lincoln, NE
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
30.9 in
+7.5 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
13.6
+25% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$15.53
+13% in Lincoln, NE

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 / NE)
7%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.55%
+1.6 pp in NE

Fort Wayne vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Lincoln?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Lincoln?
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 Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Lincoln?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).