City Comparison

Alexandria vs Fort Wayne

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Fort Wayne

Indiana
82
Very Affordable
$195,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$54,600
Median Income

The Verdict

76.8%

Living in Fort Wayne costs 76.8% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $42,414 in Fort Wayne.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
57
Fort Wayne
Groceries
113
Alexandria
99
Fort Wayne
Utilities
97
Alexandria
93
Fort Wayne
Transportation
107
Alexandria
101
Fort Wayne
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
96
Fort Wayne

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $42,414 in Fort Wayne.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Wayne equals $132,622 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Fort Wayne

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Fort Wayne's 57, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $195,000. The $395,000 difference in home prices means roughly $25,680 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $950/mo in Fort Wayne, a monthly difference of $1,175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 99 in Fort Wayne. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $470/month in Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $804/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 93 in Fort Wayne. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $372 in Fort Wayne. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 96 in Fort Wayne. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $54,600 in Fort Wayne. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $66,585 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,274/month in Fort Wayne. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 144 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Wayne is 76.8% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $42,414 in Fort Wayne, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Fort Wayne's is 57 with median homes at $195,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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