Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Nashville

Tennessee

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Nashville, TN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashville, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $75,197 in Nashville, TN — about 20% higher in Nashville, TN. 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
Nashville, TN

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,341
+68% in Nashville, TN
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,336
+71% in Nashville, TN
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,478
+50% in Nashville, TN
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,832
+67% in Nashville, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$383,100
+126% in Nashville, TN

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$75,197
+25% in Nashville, TN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$50,390
+6% in Nashville, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
34.4 yr
+0.6 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
53.0%
+9.2 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
46.9%
+18.4 pp in Nashville, TN
Avg Commute
21.4 min
24.9 min
+3.5 min in Nashville, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
1,178.7
+282% in Nashville, TN
Property Crime
2,245.4
4,558.5
+103% in Nashville, 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
59.4°F
+8.9°F in Nashville, TN
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
47.3 in
+8.9 in in Nashville, TN

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WeGo Public Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
14.5
+20% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$16.83
+23% in Nashville, 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 Nashville, 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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / TN)
7%
7%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
None
+3.0 pp in IN

Fort Wayne vs Nashville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Nashville?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Nashville, TN's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Nashville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $53,000 in Nashville.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Nashville?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Nashville 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).