Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 27% higher in Raleigh, NC. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,301
+63% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,323
+69% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,462
+49% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,715
+56% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$377,800
+123% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$82,424
+37% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$51,990
+9% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
34.7 yr
+0.3 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
51.2%
+11.0 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
52.9%
+24.4 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
21.4 min
23.4 min
+2.0 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
491.5
+59% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
2,245.4
2,838.4
+26% in Raleigh, NC

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
60.6°F
+10.1°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
46.0 in
+7.7 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
15.1
+17% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$27.56
+101% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NC)
7%
4.75%
+2.3 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
3.99%
+1.0 pp in NC

Fort Wayne vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Raleigh?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Raleigh?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).