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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,172 in Fort Wayne, IN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,251 in Fort Wayne, IN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,329 in Fort Wayne, IN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 42% more than Fort Wayne, IN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Fort Wayne, IN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Fort Wayne, IN by 62%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$15.33 $15.33

36.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$59.1 $59.1

65.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.08 $10.08

17.66%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.15 $4.15

34.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.25 $2.25

36.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.16 $2.16

14.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$4.29 $4.29

66.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.17 $6.17

30.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.80 $0.80

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.03 $3.03

35.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.83 $4.83

16.15%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.72 $2.72

65.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$16.72 $16.72

-14.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$9.92 $9.92

50.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.27 $14.27

34.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.43 $5.43

-5.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.26 $1.26

40.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.48 $4.48

-2.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.05 $5.05

-9.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.19 $2.19

15.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.70 $3.70

-25.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.63 $1.63

48.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.49 $1.49

75.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$8.01 $8.01

86.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.14 $12.14

21.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.78 $1.78

38.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.47 $3.47

7.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.20 $2.20

12.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$25.42 $25.42

196.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.91 $2.91

9.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.27 $1.27

11.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$26.71 $26.71

-6.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.90 $0.90

17.78%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K $31.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

21.25%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$185 $185

$158 $158

16.98%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$47.99 $47.99

28.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$68.3 $68.3

-2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$50.2 $50.2

49.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$31.83 $31.83

-58.91%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$12.26 $12.26

19.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,020 $2,020

$947 $947

113.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$19.9K $19.9K

98.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$51.2 $51.2

26.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$37.23 $37.23

40.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$84.7 $84.7

15.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$98.5 $98.5

49.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,227 $1,227

88.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,023 $1,023

55.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,386 $2,386

93.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,743 $1,743

59.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,046 $2,046

91.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,643 $1,643

58.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,524 $3,524

48.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.61

-0.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Fort Wayne, IN: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,227 in Fort Wayne, IN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 48% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $59.0 in Fort Wayne, IN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $367 – making Fort Wayne, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Fort Wayne, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,172 in Fort Wayne, IN – roughly 42% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,258 in Fort Wayne, IN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fort Wayne, IN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $59.0 in Fort Wayne, IN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fort Wayne, IN, where all-in costs run around $2,172, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Fort Wayne, IN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,172 in Fort Wayne, IN to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Fort Wayne, IN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.