Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 21% higher in Portland, ME. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,038
+30% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,331
+70% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,664
+69% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,919
+74% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$452,600
+167% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$76,174
+26% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$56,960
+19% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
37.5 yr
+2.5 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
62.2%
46.7%
+15.5 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
59.2%
+30.7 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
21.4 min
19.9 min
+1.5 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
272.7
+12% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
2,245.4
2,513.3
+12% in Portland, ME

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
46.5°F
+4.0°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
47.3 in
+8.9 in in Portland, ME

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
28.6
+58% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$21.00
+53% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / ME)
7%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
7.15%
+4.2 pp in ME

Fort Wayne vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Portland?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Portland?
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 Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Portland?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).