CostIndexUSA

Bowling Green, KY vs Fort Wayne, IN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
IN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Bowling Green is slightly cheaper than Fort Wayne — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $82,100 in Fort Wayne. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+14.0%
Bowling Green
63.4
Fort Wayne
72.3
🛒 Groceries2.0%
Bowling Green
96.2
Fort Wayne
94.3
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
Bowling Green
101.7
Fort Wayne
104.1
🏥 Healthcare+2.4%
Bowling Green
92
Fort Wayne
94.2
Utilities+14.6%
Bowling Green
75.2
Fort Wayne
86.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bowling Green to see what you'd need to earn in Fort Wayne to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Wayne, IN
$82,100
$2,100 more needed in Fort Wayne

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0266. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bowling Green, KY

Median Home Price
$259,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
63.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.3×

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
72.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Fort Wayne has 14.0% higher housing costs compared to Bowling Green.

Income & Job Market

Bowling Green, KY

Median Household Income
$60,600
Per Capita Income
$34,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
72,294
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationRetailAutomotive

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Household Income
$66,300
Per Capita Income
$37,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
270,402
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bowling Green, KY
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Wayne, IN
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.