CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs St. Louis, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
MO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Fort Wayne is slightly cheaper than St. Louis — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $82,200 in St. Louis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+9.3%
Fort Wayne
72.3
St. Louis
79
🛒 Groceries+6.0%
Fort Wayne
94.3
St. Louis
100
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fort Wayne
104.1
St. Louis
103.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fort Wayne
94.2
St. Louis
93.7
Utilities18.9%
Fort Wayne
86.2
St. Louis
69.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Louis, MO
$82,200
$2,200 more needed in St. Louis

Formula: salary × (95.1 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0270. 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×

St. Louis, MO

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.6×

St. Louis has 9.3% 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

St. Louis, MO

Median Household Income
$78,200
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
319,294
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingTechnologyEducation

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)

St. Louis, MO
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.