Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Wayne, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Wayne, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,172 in Fort Wayne, IN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,251 in Fort Wayne, IN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,329 in Fort Wayne, IN, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 66% more than Fort Wayne, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Fort Wayne, IN sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Fort Wayne, IN by 62%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$15.33 $15.33

61.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$59.1 $59.1

99.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.08 $10.08

36.61%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.15 $4.15

37.59%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.25 $2.25

35.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.16 $2.16

15.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.29 $4.29

82.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.17 $6.17

27.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.80 $0.80

68.75%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.03 $3.03

67.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.83 $4.83

11.59%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$2.72 $2.72

151.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$16.72 $16.72

49.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$9.92 $9.92

59.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.27 $14.27

44.29%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.43 $5.43

13.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.26 $1.26

123.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.48 $4.48

22.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.05 $5.05

33.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.19 $2.19

43.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.70 $3.70

3.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.63 $1.63

65.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.49 $1.49

77.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$8.01 $8.01

45.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.14 $12.14

29.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.78 $1.78

64.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.47 $3.47

22.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.20 $2.20

28.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$25.42 $25.42

294.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.91 $2.91

-10.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.27 $1.27

35.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$26.71 $26.71

13.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.90 $0.90

32.22%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

24.26%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.62%

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

$263 $263

$158 $158

66.06%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$47.99 $47.99

26.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$68.3 $68.3

11.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$50.2 $50.2

58.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$31.83 $31.83

25.32%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.26 $12.26

32.71%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$947 $947

140.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$19.9K $19.9K

47.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$51.2 $51.2

34.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$37.23 $37.23

39.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$84.7 $84.7

36.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$98.5 $98.5

45.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,227 $1,227

90.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,023 $1,023

82.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,386 $2,386

94.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,743 $1,743

99.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,046 $2,046

279.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,643 $1,643

218.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,524 $3,524

87.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.61

-2.87%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA 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 88% higher in Seattle, WA, 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $59.0 in Fort Wayne, IN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 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

Seattle, WA vs Fort Wayne, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 66% more than Fort Wayne, IN, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA 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 49% more in Seattle, WA, 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 $118 in Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA at $3,598. In Fort Wayne, IN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fort Wayne, IN costs $2,172 versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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