Fort Wayne, IN vs Madison, WI

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fort Wayne is 28% cheaper than Madison. With a cost index of 74 vs 103, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fort Wayne to Madison should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Wayne is $959/month compared to $1,364/month in Madison — a 30% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Wayne is more affordable at $169,700 median vs $346,900.

Median household income in Fort Wayne is $60,293 compared to $76,983 in Madison (-21.7%). The higher salaries in Madison partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Wayne spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, less than the 21.3% in Madison.