Fort Wayne vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Wayne
Lakewood
The Verdict
Fort Wayne is 38.3% less expensive than Lakewood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Wayne would need approximately $121,646 in Lakewood to maintain the same standard of living.
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 $121,646 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $46,241 in Fort Wayne.
Living in Fort Wayne vs Lakewood
Housing Costs
Fort Wayne's housing index of 57 is lower Lakewood's 188, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $574,000. The $379,000 difference in home prices means roughly $24,636 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Fort Wayne compared to $1,850/mo in Lakewood, a monthly difference of $900.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fort Wayne and 101 in Lakewood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fort Wayne vs $480/month in Lakewood. 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 85 in Lakewood. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Fort Wayne vs $340 in Lakewood. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Fort Wayne and 84 in Lakewood. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $54,600 in Fort Wayne and $83,800 in Lakewood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,585 and $63,008 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 $1,955/month in Lakewood. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 131 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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