CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Lansing, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
MI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Fort Wayne is slightly cheaper than Lansing — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $82,100 in Lansing. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+15.5%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Lansing
83.5
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Fort Wayne
94.3
Lansing
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fort Wayne
104.1
Lansing
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fort Wayne
94.2
Lansing
94.6
Utilities+10.8%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Lansing
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lansing, MI
$82,100
$2,100 more needed in Lansing

Formula: salary × (95 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0259. 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×

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Lansing has 15.5% 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

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

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)

Lansing, MI
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.