City Comparison

Fort Wayne vs Green Bay

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Wayne

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

Green Bay

Wisconsin
86
Below Average
$235,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$55,200
Median Income

The Verdict

4.7%

Living in Fort Wayne costs 4.7% less than Green Bay. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $78,659 in Green Bay.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
57
Fort Wayne
72
Green Bay
Groceries
99
Fort Wayne
98
Green Bay
Utilities
93
Fort Wayne
84
Green Bay
Transportation
101
Fort Wayne
102
Green Bay
Healthcare
96
Fort Wayne
96
Green Bay

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Wayne has the same purchasing power as $78,659 in Green Bay.

Conversely, $75,000 in Green Bay equals $71,512 in Fort Wayne.

Living in Fort Wayne vs Green Bay

Housing Costs

Fort Wayne's housing index of 57 is lower Green Bay's 72, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $235,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Fort Wayne compared to $950/mo in Green Bay, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fort Wayne and 98 in Green Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fort Wayne vs $466/month in Green Bay. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Fort Wayne and 84 in Green Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Fort Wayne vs $336 in Green Bay. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Fort Wayne and 96 in Green Bay. 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 $54,600 in Fort Wayne and $55,200 in Green Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,585 and $64,186 respectively. Fort Wayne residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,274/month to housing in Fort Wayne vs $1,288/month in Green Bay. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Green Bay, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Wayne is 4.7% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 86.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Wayne has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $78,659 in Green Bay, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Wayne's housing index is 57 with median homes at $195,000, while Green Bay's is 72 with median homes at $235,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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