Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 60% higher in Naperville, IL. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,713
+115% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,594
+104% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,889
+92% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$2,446
+122% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$509,900
+200% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$150,937
+150% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$54,720
+15% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
40.1 yr
+5.1 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
62.2%
74.3%
+12.1 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
71.7%
+43.2 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
21.4 min
31.4 min
+10.0 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
85.7
+72% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
2,245.4
892.2
+60% 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
49.9°F
+0.6°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
36.9 in
+1.4 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
23.9
+31% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$15.39
+12% in Naperville, IL

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 / IL)
7%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.95%
+2.0 pp in IL

Fort Wayne vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Naperville?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Naperville?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).