Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Wayne, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Wayne, IN

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 43.6% more expensive than Fort Wayne, IN without rent, and 42.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 57.1% more expensive than Fort Wayne, IN without rent, and 44.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.47 $15.47
34.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.5 $60.5
65.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.15 $10.15
17.93%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.05 $4.05
37.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.28 $2.28
36.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.1 $2.1
15.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.35 $4.35
57.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.97 $5.97
41.54%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.81 $0.81
28.40%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.92 $2.92
42.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.87 $4.87
13.35%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.69 $2.69
72.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$16.87 $16.87
-15.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.15 $10.15
46.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.37 $14.37
34.59%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.49 $5.49
-5.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.2 $1.2
42.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.41 $4.41
-
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.19 $5.19
-13.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.19 $2.19
15.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.52 $3.52
-22.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.7 $1.7
42.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.51 $1.51
78.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.29 $8.29
83.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.95 $11.95
37.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.74 $1.74
35.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.4 $3.4
8.82%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.23 $2.23
13.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$24.71 $24.71
200.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.92 $2.92
14.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.22 $1.22
16.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$26.22 $26.22
-3.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.8K $25.8K
25.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.45%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$160 $160
17.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$49.45 $49.45
28.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.4 $68.4
-4.66%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$49.97 $49.97
53.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$31.33 $31.33
-58.41%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.75 $12.75
17.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$937 $937
120.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$20.3K $20.3K
92.64%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$52.4 $52.4
22.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$36.92 $36.92
41.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$84.3 $84.3
12.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$99.6 $99.6
45.26%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,237 $1,237
92.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,002 $1,002
58.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,329 $2,329
104.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,746 $1,746
61.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,255 $2,255
59.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,680 $1,680
48.27%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,604 $3,604
46.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Fort Wayne, IN: October 28, 2025

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