Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 51% higher in Seattle, WA. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,638
+105% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,858
+138% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$984
$2,359
+140% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$2,918
+165% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$912,100
+437% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$121,984
+102% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$72,610
+52% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
35.5 yr
+0.5 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
62.2%
44.2%
+18.0 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
67.5%
+39.0 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
21.4 min
26.6 min
+5.2 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
788.6
+155% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
2,245.4
5,108.8
+128% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+3.0°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
37.7 in
+0.6 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.31/gal
+35% in Seattle, WA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
14.9
+18% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$20.41
+49% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Seattle, WA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / WA)
7%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
None
+3.0 pp in IN

Fort Wayne vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Seattle?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Seattle?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).