Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Reno?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Reno?

Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Fort Wayne vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 23% higher in Reno, NV. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$798

$964

+21% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$782

$1,206

+54% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$984

$1,518

+54% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,885

+71% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$498,600

+194% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$78,448

+30% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

$49,660

+4% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

37.3 yr

+2.3 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

62.2%

49.4%

+12.8 pp in Fort Wayne, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

35.7%

+7.2 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

21.4 min

20.6 min

+0.8 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

528.9

+71% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

2,245.4

2,489.3

+11% in Reno, NV

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

53.8°F

+3.3°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

7.4 in

+30.9 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Reno, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

13.6

+25% in Fort Wayne, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$12.09

+12% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Fort Wayne, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Fort Wayne, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / NV)

6.85%

+0.2 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

None

+3.0 pp in IN

Fort Wayne vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Reno?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Reno?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).