What is the cost of living in Fort Wayne, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Wayne has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, Fort Wayne has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Indiana's index of 90.
The standard of living in Fort Wayne ranks as #76 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Fort Wayne ranks as the #53 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in Fort Wayne, check out:
Fort Wayne Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Wayne. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Wayne is 100.
The Groceries index in Fort Wayne is 94.
The Health index in Fort Wayne is 73.
The Housing index in Fort Wayne is 101.
The Transportation index in Fort Wayne is 96.
The Utilities index in Fort Wayne is 95.
| Living Expense | Fort Wayne | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
Fort Wayne Cost Of Living Compared To Indiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Fort Wayne Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fort Wayne, IN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Indiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Fort Wayne is $242,384.
The Median Rent in Fort Wayne is $999.
The Median Income in Fort Wayne is $61,422.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Wayne is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Wayne is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Fort Wayne | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $242,384 | $254,121 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $999 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $61,422 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Fort Wayne, IN Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Wayne Services costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Fort Wayne | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.32 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.75 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.72 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.22 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $33.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Wayne Groceries costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Fort Wayne | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.1 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.64 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.08 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.79 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.06 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.63 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Wayne Health costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Fort Wayne | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.3 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.61 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Wayne Transportation costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Fort Wayne | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.35 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.65 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Wayne Utilities costs vs. Indiana
| Item | Fort Wayne | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $197.87 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.69 | $192.25 |
Fort Wayne SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Wayne
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Wayne. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Goshen, IN has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Fort Wayne.
Defiance, OH has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Fort Wayne.
New Haven, IN has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Fort Wayne.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goshen, IN | 34,420 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Defiance, OH | 17,276 | 85 | 0.9x |
| New Haven, IN | 15,698 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Auburn, IN | 13,565 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Celina, OH | 10,903 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Van Wert, OH | 10,790 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Decatur, IN | 9,811 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Bryan, OH | 8,631 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Delphos, OH | 7,143 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Garrett, IN | 6,642 | 86 | 0.9x |
