Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Norfolk?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $41,000 in Norfolk.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Norfolk?

Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Fort Wayne vs Norfolk Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 6% higher in Norfolk, VA. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio

$798

$1,102

+38% in Norfolk, VA

1 Bedroom

$782

$1,032

+32% in Norfolk, VA

2 Bedroom

$984

$1,214

+23% in Norfolk, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,602

+46% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$271,900

+60% in Norfolk, VA

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$64,017

+6% in Norfolk, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

$49,430

+4% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

32.4 yr

+2.6 yr in Fort Wayne, IN

Homeownership

62.2%

45.7%

+16.5 pp in Fort Wayne, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

32.7%

+4.2 pp in Norfolk, VA

Avg Commute

21.4 min

22.9 min

+1.5 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

479.5

+55% in Norfolk, VA

Property Crime

2,245.4

3,800.7

+69% in Norfolk, VA

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

61.3°F

+10.8°F in Norfolk, VA

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

44.8 in

+6.4 in in Norfolk, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

17.6

+3% in Fort Wayne, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$23.66

+73% in Norfolk, VA

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 Norfolk, VA

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 / VA)

5.3%

+1.7 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

5.75%

+2.8 pp in VA

Fort Wayne vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Norfolk?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Norfolk?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $41,000 in Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Norfolk?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).