CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Iowa City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Iowa City is slightly cheaper than Fort Wayne — 1.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $79,000 in Iowa City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+16.2%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Iowa City
84
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Fort Wayne
94.3
Iowa City
93.7
🚗 Transportation6.2%
Fort Wayne
104.1
Iowa City
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.3%
Fort Wayne
94.2
Iowa City
88.3
Utilities2.9%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Iowa City
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Iowa City, IA
$79,000
$1,000 less needed in Iowa City

Formula: salary × (91.5 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9881. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Wayne, IN

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

Iowa City, IA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Iowa City has 16.2% higher housing costs compared to Fort Wayne.

Income & Job Market

Fort Wayne, IN

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

Iowa City, IA

Median Household Income
$71,900
Per Capita Income
$41,000
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
74,398
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyResearchGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Iowa City, IA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.