City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Green Bay, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fort Wayne, IN (92.6) and Green Bay, WI (93.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fort Wayne, IN goes as far as $100,600 in Green Bay, WI.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $916 a month in Fort Wayne, IN and $931 in Green Bay, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $999 a year higher in Green Bay, WI 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 Fort Wayne, IN to Green Bay, WI changes real buying power by −0.6%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Green Bay, WI: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fort Wayne, IN | Green Bay, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 93.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,555 in Green Bay | $99,448 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $931/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $49,940 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Green Bay, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Green Bay, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Green Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 74.7 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 90.0 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 93.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Green Bay, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$999/yr.
67 Fair offer
Green Bay, WI → Fort Wayne, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$999/yr.
70 Strong 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 Fort Wayne, IN to Green Bay, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Green Bay, WI | Real change, Fort Wayne → Green Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Green Bay, WI | Green Bay pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $60,600 | $60,265 (+0.8%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $103,160 | $102,590 (+1.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $77,720 | $77,291 (+2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $84,700 | $84,232 (+5.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.