Fort Wayne, IN vs Saint Paul, MN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Saint Paul, MN has a modeled overall cost index 30.1% higher than Fort Wayne, IN.

Fort Wayne, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,090 / month
Saint Paul, MN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,500 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Fort Wayne, IN and Saint Paul, MN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2,021/month in Saint Paul, MN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $174,254 in Saint Paul, MN

Regional cost estimates: Saint Paul, MN uses Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 30.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,021
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$24.3K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Fort Wayne, IN

Population:270K
Cost Index:
83.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$206K

Saint Paul, MN

Population:308K
Cost Index:
108.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$274K

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Fort Wayne, IN

The Hoosier State

270K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 270K residents.

Saint Paul, MN

The North Star State

308K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 308K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fort Wayne, IN vs Saint Paul, MN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 54.3%
Fort Wayne, IN
$2,098
Saint Paul, MN
$3,238
Difference
$1,139
more
Other
↑ 19.1%
Fort Wayne, IN
$1,719
Saint Paul, MN
$2,047
Difference
$328
more
Transportation
↑ 16.1%
Fort Wayne, IN
$1,371
Saint Paul, MN
$1,591
Difference
$221
more
Healthcare
↑ 29.8%
Fort Wayne, IN
$672
Saint Paul, MN
$872
Difference
$200
more
Groceries
↑ 12.0%
Fort Wayne, IN
$1,060
Saint Paul, MN
$1,187
Difference
$127
more
All Utilities
↑ 1.1%
Fort Wayne, IN
$580
Saint Paul, MN
$586
Difference
$6.30
more

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Fort Wayne, IN: Allen County Income Tax$2,220/yr (1.5%)

Saint Paul, MN has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$870
To$1,000
↑ $130
1 Bed
From$900
To$1,200
↑ $300
2 Bed
From$1,090
To$1,500
↑ $410
3 Bed
From$1,350
To$2,100
↑ $750
Fort Wayne, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$1,360/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Fort Wayne, IN
$9,521
Monthly in Saint Paul, MN
$2,021
Difference

Home Values

Fort Wayne
Saint Paul
$206K
Median Value
$274K
↑ +2.2%
YoY Change
↓ -0.1%
↑ +46.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +13.6%
$104K - $439K
Price Range
$175K - $452K

Homes in Saint Paul are 33% more expensive than Fort Wayne

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $5.6K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$466
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.7%
Rate difference

Fort Wayne, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Saint Paul, MN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Minnesota State Tax
Effective: 7.0%
$10.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.6%
$47.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,546/month
$102.6K

Additional Tax Information

Fort Wayne, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Saint Paul, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Fort Wayne
Saint Paul
45 Good
Air Quality
36 Good
62.6%
Good Air Days
72.4%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Fort Wayne, IN to Saint Paul, MN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Saint Paul, MN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fort Wayne, IN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Fort Wayne to Saint Paul moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Saint Paul, MN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Fort Wayne, IN vs Saint Paul, MN

How do the cost estimates for Fort Wayne, IN and Saint Paul, MN compare?

Saint Paul, MN has a modeled overall cost index 30.1% higher than Fort Wayne, IN. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Fort Wayne, IN, the model estimates $174,254 in Saint Paul, MN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Fort Wayne, IN and Saint Paul, MN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,090/month in Fort Wayne, IN and $1,500/month in Saint Paul, MN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Indiana and Minnesota on TaxTakeHome.com

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