City comparison
Boise City, ID vs Fort Wayne, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Boise City, ID are 6.3% higher than in Fort Wayne, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Fort Wayne, IN would need about $106,300 in Boise City, ID to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,381 a month in Boise City, ID versus $916 in Fort Wayne, IN. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Boise City, ID and 14% in Fort Wayne, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,271 a year higher in Boise City, ID than in Fort Wayne, IN.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Boise City, ID to Fort Wayne, IN changes real buying power by +6.3%, purely from prices.
- Boise City, ID: price level 98.4 (about average)
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Boise City, ID | Fort Wayne, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.4 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,086 in Fort Wayne | $106,286 in Boise City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,381/mo | $916/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,988 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,192 (ID) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,100 | $47,700 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Boise City, ID HUD Metro FMR Area and Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Boise City, ID and Fort Wayne, IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boise City | Fort Wayne |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.6 | 72.3 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 94.3 |
| Utilities | 70.7 | 86.2 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 99.1 |
| Overall | 98.4 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boise City, ID → Fort Wayne, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.3%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,271/yr.
88 Strong offer
Fort Wayne, IN → Boise City, ID
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,271/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Boise City, ID to Fort Wayne, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boise City, ID | Fort Wayne, IN | Real change, Boise City → Fort Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +6.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +6.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +6.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +6.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +6.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boise City, ID | Fort Wayne, IN | Fort Wayne pay in Boise City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,230 | $59,800 | $63,559 (+3.8%) |
| Software Developers | $131,590 | $101,560 | $107,944 (−18.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,700 | $75,250 | $79,980 (+4.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,880 | $79,630 | $84,635 (−13.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.