Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Salem?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Salem?

Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Fort Wayne vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 16% higher in Salem, OR. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$798

$1,075

+35% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$782

$989

+26% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$984

$1,337

+36% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,778

+62% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$382,400

+125% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$71,900

+19% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

$55,310

+16% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

35.7 yr

+0.7 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

62.2%

55.7%

+6.5 pp in Fort Wayne, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

31.4%

+2.9 pp in Salem, OR

Avg Commute

21.4 min

22.4 min

+1.0 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

540.6

+75% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

2,245.4

2,878.6

+28% in Salem, OR

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

53.0°F

+2.5°F in Salem, OR

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

39.7 in

+1.3 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

16.3

+10% in Fort Wayne, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$20.59

+50% in Salem, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Fort Wayne, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Fort Wayne, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / OR)

None

+7.0 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

9.90%

+7.0 pp in OR

Fort Wayne vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Salem?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Salem?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).