CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostIN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
TX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Fort Wayne and Waco have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+15.5%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fort Wayne
94.3
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.9%
Fort Wayne
104.1
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.0%
Fort Wayne
94.2
Waco
91.4
Utilities6.0%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$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×

Waco, TX

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Waco 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

Waco, TX

Median Household Income
$62,700
Per Capita Income
$35,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
138,486
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Waco, TX
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.