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 35.3% more expensive than Fort Wayne, IN without rent, and 44.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 29% more expensive than Fort Wayne, IN without rent, and 43.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 $20.53
$15.46 $15.46
32.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$59.3 $59.3
71.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$10.12 $10.12
18.87%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.08 $4.08
37.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.26 $2.26
35.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.11 $2.11
14.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$4.13 $4.13
69.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.10 $8.10
$6.03 $6.03
34.33%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.82 $0.82
31.71%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$2.93 $2.93
34.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.75 $4.75
16.21%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$2.73 $2.73
66.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$16.95 $16.95
-13.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.91 $14.91
$9.98 $9.98
49.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$13.85 $13.85
35.96%
Apples (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$5.53 $5.53
-3.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.25 $1.25
40.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.60 $4.60
-4.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$5.04 $5.04
-13.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.31 $2.31
10.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.63 $3.63
-23.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.64 $1.64
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.46 $1.46
82.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.74 $14.74
$8.23 $8.23
79.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$11.92 $11.92
27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.68 $1.68
45.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$3.48 $3.48
5.75%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.20 $2.20
14.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.5 $74.5
$25.12 $25.12
196.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.06 $3.06
7.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.24 $1.24
15.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.86 $24.86
$26.90 $26.90
-7.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.85 $0.85
28.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
19.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$24.6K $24.6K
8.79%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$159 $159
17.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$48.18 $48.18
29.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$68.1 $68.1
-1.38%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$50.4 $50.4
49.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.17 $13.17
$30.93 $30.93
-57.42%
Cinema Ticket
$15.21 $15.21
$12.66 $12.66
20.14%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,039 $2,039
$953 $953
113.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.3K $39.3K
$20.4K $20.4K
93.05%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$51.4 $51.4
24.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$37.49 $37.49
34.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 $95.4
$84.3 $84.3
13.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$99.6 $99.6
44.19%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,355 $2,355
$1,221 $1,221
92.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,613 $1,613
$1,009 $1,009
59.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,728 $4,728
$2,370 $2,370
99.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,754 $2,754
$1,753 $1,753
57.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,803 $3,803
$1,707 $1,707
122.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,580 $2,580
$1,672 $1,672
54.34%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,738 $4,738
$3,463 $3,463
36.82%
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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Fort Wayne, IN: April 12, 2026

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

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