CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Knoxville, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostIN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
TN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Fort Wayne and Knoxville have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+14.5%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Knoxville
82.8
🛒 Groceries+2.0%
Fort Wayne
94.3
Knoxville
96.2
🚗 Transportation4.0%
Fort Wayne
104.1
Knoxville
99.9
🏥 Healthcare4.0%
Fort Wayne
94.2
Knoxville
90.4
Utilities16.6%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Knoxville
71.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fort Wayne to see what you'd need to earn in Knoxville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Knoxville, TN
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
72.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Knoxville, TN

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
82.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Knoxville has 14.5% higher housing costs compared to Fort Wayne.

Income & Job Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Household Income
$66,300
Per Capita Income
$37,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
270,402
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceRetailGovernment

Knoxville, TN

Median Household Income
$69,900
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
190,740
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingTourismGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fort Wayne, IN
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Knoxville, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.