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

🙂 Solo nomad: Fort Wayne, IN is 30.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 29.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Fort Wayne, IN is 36.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.47 $15.47
$20.82 $20.82
-25.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$100 $100
-39.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.15 $10.15
$11.97 $11.97
-15.20%
Cappuccino
$4.05 $4.05
$5.56 $5.56
-27.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$3.11 $3.11
-26.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.42 $2.42
-13.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.35 $4.35
$6.86 $6.86
-36.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 $5.97
$8.45 $8.45
-29.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.04 $1.04
-22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.92 $2.92
$4.15 $4.15
-29.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$5.52 $5.52
-11.78%
Eggs
$2.69 $2.69
$4.65 $4.65
-42.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.87 $16.87
$14.33 $14.33
17.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.15 $10.15
$14.88 $14.88
-31.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.37 $14.37
$19.34 $19.34
-25.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.49 $5.49
$5.17 $5.17
6.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.71 $1.71
-29.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.41 $4.41
-
Tomato (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$4.51 $4.51
15.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.53 $2.53
-13.44%
Onion (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$2.74 $2.74
28.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.7 $1.7
$2.43 $2.43
-30.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.7 $2.7
-44.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.29 $8.29
$15.19 $15.19
-45.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.95 $11.95
$16.42 $16.42
-27.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.4 $3.4
$3.7 $3.7
-8.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.53 $2.53
-11.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.71 $24.71
$74.1 $74.1
-66.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.34 $3.34
-12.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.42 $1.42
-14.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.22 $26.22
$25.42 $25.42
3.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-20.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$188 $188
-15.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.45 $49.45
$63.7 $63.7
-22.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$65.2 $65.2
4.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.97 $49.97
$76.7 $76.7
-34.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.33 $31.33
$13.03 $13.03
140.45%
Cinema Ticket
$12.75 $12.75
$14.93 $14.93
-14.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$937 $937
$2,063 $2,063
-54.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.3K $20.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-48.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 $52.4
$64.3 $64.3
-18.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.92 $36.92
$52.4 $52.4
-29.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.3 $84.3
$95.2 $95.2
-11.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.6 $99.6
$145 $145
-31.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 $1,237
$2,378 $2,378
-47.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,002 $1,002
$1,584 $1,584
-36.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,329 $2,329
$4,763 $4,763
-51.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,746 $1,746
$2,815 $2,815
-37.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,255 $2,255
$3,588 $3,588
-37.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,680 $1,680
$2,490 $2,490
-32.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,604 $3,604
$5,275 $5,275
-31.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

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

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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