Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 22% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,127
+41% in Phoenix, AZ
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,253
+60% in Phoenix, AZ
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,493
+52% in Phoenix, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,771
+61% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$381,900
+125% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$77,041
+28% in Phoenix, AZ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$51,380
+8% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
34.8 yr
+0.2 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
57.1%
+5.1 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
32.3%
+3.8 pp in Phoenix, AZ
Avg Commute
21.4 min
25.7 min
+4.3 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
799.6
+159% in Phoenix, AZ
Property Crime
2,245.4
2,338.9
+4% in Phoenix, AZ

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
75.1°F
+24.6°F in Phoenix, AZ
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
8.2 in
+30.2 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.09/gal
+29% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Valley Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
15.2
+16% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$22.44
+64% in Phoenix, AZ

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Phoenix, AZ
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Phoenix, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Phoenix, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / AZ)
7%
5.6%
+1.4 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
2.50%
+0.5 pp in IN

Fort Wayne vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Phoenix?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Phoenix?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Phoenix?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).