Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Warwick?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Warwick?

Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Fort Wayne vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 31% higher in Warwick, RI. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$798

$923

+16% in Warwick, RI

1 Bedroom

$782

$1,085

+39% in Warwick, RI

2 Bedroom

$984

$1,629

+66% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,569

+43% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$322,000

+90% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$87,536

+45% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

$53,680

+13% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

44.6 yr

+9.6 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

62.2%

73.4%

+11.2 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

33.2%

+4.7 pp in Warwick, RI

Avg Commute

21.4 min

25.0 min

+3.6 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

79.5

+74% in Fort Wayne, IN

Property Crime

2,245.4

1,149.5

+49% 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

51.6°F

+1.1°F in Warwick, RI

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

47.2 in

+8.8 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Warwick, RI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.5

29.2

+67% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.52

$25.75

+5% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Warwick, RI

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Fort Wayne, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Warwick, RI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Warwick, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / RI)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

5.99%

+3.0 pp in RI

Fort Wayne vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Warwick?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Warwick?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).