CostIndexUSA

Cincinnati, OH vs Fort Wayne, IN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Cincinnati
95.4
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableIN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Fort Wayne is slightly cheaper than Cincinnati — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cincinnati, you would need $77,600 in Fort Wayne. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing17.5%
Cincinnati
87.6
Fort Wayne
72.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cincinnati
93.8
Fort Wayne
94.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Cincinnati
104
Fort Wayne
104.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Cincinnati
94.1
Fort Wayne
94.2
Utilities5.3%
Cincinnati
91
Fort Wayne
86.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Wayne, IN
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Fort Wayne

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 95.4) = salary × 0.9706. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cincinnati, OH

Median Home Price
$296,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
87.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Fort Wayne, IN

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

Cincinnati has 17.5% lower housing costs compared to Fort Wayne.

Income & Job Market

Cincinnati, OH

Median Household Income
$77,800
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
309,317
Top Industries
FinanceManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnology

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).

Cincinnati, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.