Fort Wayne vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Wayne
St. Paul
The Verdict
Fort Wayne is 18.0% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Wayne would need approximately $91,463 in St. Paul 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 $91,463 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $61,500 in Fort Wayne.
Living in Fort Wayne vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
Fort Wayne's housing index of 57 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $260,000. The $65,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,224 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 St. Paul, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fort Wayne and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fort Wayne vs $489/month in St. Paul. 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 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Fort Wayne vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Fort Wayne and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,585 and $57,718 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 $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 41 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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