Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Memphis?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $38,000 in Memphis.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Memphis?

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

Fort Wayne vs Memphis Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 15% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio

$798

$877

+10% in Memphis, TN

1 Bedroom

$782

$948

+21% in Memphis, TN

2 Bedroom

$984

$1,073

+9% in Memphis, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,281

+16% in Memphis, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$157,100

+7% in Fort Wayne, IN

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$51,211

+15% in Fort Wayne, IN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

$46,890

+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

34.3 yr

+0.7 yr in Fort Wayne, IN

Homeownership

62.2%

46.0%

+16.2 pp in Fort Wayne, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

28.2%

+0.3 pp in Fort Wayne, IN

Avg Commute

21.4 min

21.3 min

+0.1 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

2,507.6

+712% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

2,245.4

6,966.3

+210% in Memphis, TN

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

63.1°F

+12.6°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

53.7 in

+15.3 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$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 MATA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

14.5

+20% in Fort Wayne, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$16.83

+23% in Memphis, TN

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 Memphis, TN

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 / TN)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

None

+3.0 pp in IN

Fort Wayne vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Memphis?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Memphis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Memphis?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax 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).