Question 1

Is Fort Wayne or Madison cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $412/month less than in Madison, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,113/mo in Fort Wayne versus $1,694/mo in Madison.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Fort Wayne vs Madison?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $65,000/year before tax in Fort Wayne, IN and $73,500/year in Madison, WI — a difference of about $8,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Fort Wayne or Madison cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Fort Wayne, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $8,210/month in Fort Wayne and $9,882/month in Madison, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Fort Wayne or Madison?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Fort Wayne costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Fort Wayne80	Madison73
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,570	$3,982
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,210	$9,882
Salary for comfort	$65,000/yr	$73,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,113	$1,694
Median home value	$169,700	$346,900
Median household income	$60,293	$76,983
Unemployment	3.5%	3.0%
Housing score	92	54
Jobs score	86	84
Safety score	78	83
Climate score	81	65
Amenities score	33	50
Population	266.2K	275.6K
Summer high / winter low	84° / 17°	82° / 11°

Fort Wayne, IN vs Madison, WI