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 $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,204 in Fort Wayne, IN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,344 in Fort Wayne, IN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,485 in Fort Wayne, IN, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 76% 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 184%, Fort Wayne, IN by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$14.86 $14.86

68.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$54.1 $54.1

84.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$9.98 $9.98

50.90%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.53 $4.53

40.62%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.24 $2.24

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.18 $2.18

37.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.09 $4.09

90.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.39 $5.39

52.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.80 $0.80

51.25%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.91 $2.91

71.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.63 $4.63

38.01%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.69 $4.69

9.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$11.47 $11.47

83.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$10.06 $10.06

82.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$20.87 $20.87

15.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.76 $5.76

2.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.22 $1.22

54.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.57 $4.57

15.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.51 $5.51

17.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.57 $3.57

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$4.28 $4.28

-21.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.34 $2.34

19.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.26 $1.26

104.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$8.88 $8.88

56.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$11.76 $11.76

27.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.09 $2.09

104.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.56 $3.56

64.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.52 $1.52

92.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$39.36 $39.36

176.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.04 $5.04

-49.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.80 $1.80

-4.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$50.3 $50.3

-39.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.92 $0.92

52.17%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.7K $36.7K

-1.69%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$28.5K $28.5K

-10.36%

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

$299 $299

$232 $232

28.87%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$62.9 $62.9

10.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$65.2 $65.2

34.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$50.6 $50.6

58.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$24.43 $24.43

42.98%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$15.26 $15.26

15.99%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,391 $1,391

117.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$52.0 $52.0

48.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$39.38 $39.38

39.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$102 $102

26.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$93.5 $93.5

70.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,262 $1,262

97.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$910 $910

112.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,191 $2,191

116.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,694 $1,694

114.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,057 $2,057

268.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,652 $1,652

209.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,537 $3,537

75.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.34

1.74%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Fort Wayne, IN: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,262 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 76% 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 $100 in Seattle, WA versus $54.0 in Fort Wayne, IN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $389 – 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 76% 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 $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,307 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 42% 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 $100 in Seattle, WA and $54.0 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 $2,204, than in Seattle, WA at $3,880. 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 $2,204 versus $3,880 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.