CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Raleigh, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
NC
Raleigh
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Fort Wayne is moderately cheaper than Raleigh — 6.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $84,800 in Raleigh. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+43.2%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Raleigh
103.5
🛒 Groceries+2.4%
Fort Wayne
94.3
Raleigh
96.6
🚗 Transportation1.0%
Fort Wayne
104.1
Raleigh
103.1
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Fort Wayne
94.2
Raleigh
93.3
Utilities+3.2%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Raleigh
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Raleigh, NC
$84,800
$4,800 more needed in Raleigh

Formula: salary × (98.2 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0605. 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×

Raleigh, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Raleigh has 43.2% 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

Raleigh, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
467,665
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareFinanceGovernment

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)

Raleigh, NC
4.9×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.