CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Fort Wayne — 9.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $72,200 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−40.8%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−0.6%
Fort Wayne
94.3
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.5%
Fort Wayne
104.1
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.5%
Fort Wayne
94.2
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−16.2%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$72,200
$7,800 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9028. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Fort Wayne has 40.8% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Wayne vs other cities

Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Bloomington, IN
Index: 92.6Index: 95.1
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Evansville, IN
Index: 92.6Index: 91.5
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Indianapolis, IN
Index: 92.6Index: 95.7
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Toledo, OH
Index: 92.6Index: 91.5
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Madison, WI
Index: 92.6Index: 97.3

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.