Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Norman?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Norman, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Norman.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Norman?

Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Fort Wayne vs Norman Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

Norman

Oklahoma

$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 Norman, OK. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 7% higher in Norman, OK. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Norman, OK

Rent

Studio

$798

$820

+3% in Norman, OK

1 Bedroom

$782

$863

+10% in Norman, OK

2 Bedroom

$984

$1,056

+7% in Norman, OK

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,377

+25% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$239,300

+41% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$65,060

+8% in Norman, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

$47,230

+1% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

31.6 yr

+3.4 yr in Fort Wayne, IN

Homeownership

62.2%

52.7%

+9.5 pp in Fort Wayne, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

46.2%

+17.7 pp in Norman, OK

Avg Commute

21.4 min

22.2 min

+0.8 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

268.6

+13% in Fort Wayne, IN

Property Crime

2,245.4

2,294.1

+2% in Norman, OK

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

61.5°F

+11.0°F in Norman, OK

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

36.5 in

+1.8 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

13.4

+26% in Fort Wayne, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$27.15

+98% in Norman, OK

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 Norman, OK

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 / OK)

4.5%

+2.5 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

4.50%

+1.5 pp in OK

Fort Wayne vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Norman?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Norman, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Norman?: 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 Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Norman?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).