Fort Wayne vs Joliet
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Wayne
Joliet
The Verdict
Living in Fort Wayne costs 13.7% less than Joliet. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $86,890 in Joliet.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fort Wayne has the same purchasing power as $86,890 in Joliet.
Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $64,737 in Fort Wayne.
Living in Fort Wayne vs Joliet
Housing Costs
Fort Wayne's housing index of 57 is lower Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $275,000. The $80,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,196 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Fort Wayne compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fort Wayne and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fort Wayne vs $480/month in Joliet. 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 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Fort Wayne vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Fort Wayne and 102 in Joliet. 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 $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,585 and $92,632 respectively. Joliet residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,274/month to housing in Fort Wayne vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Joliet, median rent of $1,325/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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