Fort Wayne vs Shreveport
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Wayne
Shreveport
The Verdict
Living in Fort Wayne costs 2.4% less than Shreveport. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $76,829 in Shreveport.
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 $76,829 in Shreveport.
Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $73,214 in Fort Wayne.
Living in Fort Wayne vs Shreveport
Housing Costs
Fort Wayne's housing index of 57 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $170,000. The $25,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Fort Wayne compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fort Wayne and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fort Wayne vs $466/month in Shreveport. 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 Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Fort Wayne vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Fort Wayne and 93 in Shreveport. 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 $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,585 and $51,429 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 $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Shreveport, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 5 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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