Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 42% higher in Overland Park, KS. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,270
+59% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,224
+57% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,589
+61% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,828
+66% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$384,400
+127% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$103,838
+72% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$50,820
+7% in Overland Park, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
38.6 yr
+3.6 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
62.2%
61.5%
+0.7 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
62.9%
+34.4 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
21.4 min
19.9 min
+1.5 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
188.4
+39% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
2,245.4
1,790.5
+20% 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
55.2°F
+4.7°F in Overland Park, KS
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
40.0 in
+1.7 in in Overland Park, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
15.7
+10% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$25.12
+2% in Overland Park, KS

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 / KS)
7%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
5.58%
+2.6 pp in KS

Fort Wayne vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Overland Park?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Overland Park?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).