Fort Wayne, IN vs South Bend, IN

Fort Wayne, IN and South Bend, IN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.6% difference in their overall index. Fort Wayne scores 74 while South Bend scores 73 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Wayne is $959/month compared to $1,000/month in South Bend — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fort Wayne has cheaper rent, South Bend actually has lower median home values ($124,500 vs $169,700).

Median household income in Fort Wayne is $60,293 compared to $52,512 in South Bend (+14.8%). While Fort Wayne is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Wayne spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, less than the 22.9% in South Bend.