City Comparison

Fort Wayne vs Morgantown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Wayne

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

Morgantown

West Virginia
90
Below Average
$259,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$44,700
Median Income

The Verdict

8.9%

Fort Wayne is 8.9% less expensive than Morgantown overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Wayne would need approximately $82,317 in Morgantown to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
57
Fort Wayne
81
Morgantown
Groceries
99
Fort Wayne
95
Morgantown
Utilities
93
Fort Wayne
91
Morgantown
Transportation
101
Fort Wayne
99
Morgantown
Healthcare
96
Fort Wayne
88
Morgantown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Wayne has the same purchasing power as $82,317 in Morgantown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $68,333 in Fort Wayne.

Living in Fort Wayne vs Morgantown

Housing Costs

Fort Wayne's housing index of 57 is lower Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $259,000. The $64,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,164 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Fort Wayne compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fort Wayne and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fort Wayne vs $451/month in Morgantown. 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 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Fort Wayne vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Fort Wayne and 88 in Morgantown. 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 $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,585 and $49,667 respectively. Fort Wayne residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,274/month to housing in Fort Wayne vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Wayne is 8.9% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Wayne has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $82,317 in Morgantown, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Wayne's housing index is 57 with median homes at $195,000, while Morgantown's is 81 with median homes at $259,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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