Fort Wayne vs Savannah
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Wayne
Savannah
The Verdict
Fort Wayne is 11.8% less expensive than Savannah overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Wayne would need approximately $85,061 in Savannah 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 $85,061 in Savannah.
Conversely, $75,000 in Savannah equals $66,129 in Fort Wayne.
Living in Fort Wayne vs Savannah
Housing Costs
Fort Wayne's housing index of 57 is lower Savannah's 81, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $250,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Fort Wayne compared to $1,300/mo in Savannah, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fort Wayne and 100 in Savannah. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fort Wayne vs $475/month in Savannah. 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 95 in Savannah. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Fort Wayne vs $380 in Savannah. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Fort Wayne and 98 in Savannah. 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 $45,210 in Savannah. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,585 and $48,613 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 $1,055/month in Savannah. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Savannah, median rent of $1,300/mo pushes past the recommended limit. 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
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases