Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Louis, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 8% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$798
$864
+8% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$782
$866
+11% in St. Louis, MO
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,109
+13% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,135
+3% in St. Louis, MO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$185,100
+9% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$55,279
+8% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$49,990
+5% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
36.6 yr
+1.6 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
62.2%
45.4%
+16.8 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
40.2%
+11.7 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
21.4 min
22.2 min
+0.8 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
1,372.9
+344% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
2,245.4
5,794.9
+158% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+5.2°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
40.9 in
+2.6 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
13.7
+25% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$24.13
+76% in St. Louis, MO

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 / MO)
7%
4.225%
+2.8 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.70%
+1.8 pp in MO

Fort Wayne vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or St. Louis?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below St. Louis, MO's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or St. Louis?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).