Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 55% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 43% higher in Washington, DC. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,763
+121% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,885
+141% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,949
+98% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$2,249
+104% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$724,600
+327% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$106,287
+76% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$71,060
+49% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
34.9 yr
+0.1 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
41.1%
+21.1 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
63.6%
+35.1 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
21.4 min
30.3 min
+8.9 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
936.3
+203% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,245.4
3,627.9
+62% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+7.7°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
39.7 in
+1.4 in in Washington, DC

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 WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
25.4
+40% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$22.01
+61% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
10.75%
+7.8 pp in DC

Fort Wayne vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Washington?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Washington?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).