Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 34% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,496
+87% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,357
+74% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,559
+58% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,857
+69% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$366,300
+116% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$90,685
+50% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$49,430
+4% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
37.4 yr
+2.4 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
62.2%
64.9%
+2.7 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
40.4%
+11.9 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
21.4 min
23.2 min
+1.8 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
96.9
+69% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
2,245.4
1,664.9
+26% in Fort Wayne, IN

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
59.9°F
+9.4°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
44.3 in
+6.0 in in Virginia Beach, VA

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)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
17.6
+3% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$23.66
+73% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 Virginia Beach, VA
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 / VA)
7%
5.3%
+1.7 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
5.75%
+2.8 pp in VA

Fort Wayne vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Virginia Beach?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Virginia Beach?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).