City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Lafayette, LA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 6.1% higher than in Lafayette, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Lafayette, LA would need about $106,100 in Fort Wayne, IN to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $916 a month in Fort Wayne, IN and $898 in Lafayette, LA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $307 a year higher in Fort Wayne, IN than in Lafayette, LA.
- 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 Lafayette, LA changes real buying power by +6.1%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Lafayette, LA: price level 87.2 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fort Wayne, IN | Lafayette, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 87.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,207 in Lafayette | $106,150 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $898/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $76,566 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $2,614 (LA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $41,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Lafayette, LA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Lafayette, LA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 58.8 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 71.2 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 95.7 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 87.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Lafayette, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.1%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$307/yr.
88 Strong offer
Lafayette, LA → Fort Wayne, IN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$307/yr.
51 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 Fort Wayne, IN to Lafayette, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Lafayette, LA | Real change, Fort Wayne → Lafayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Lafayette, LA | Lafayette pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $47,770 | $50,708 (−15.2%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $109,010 | $115,714 (+13.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $67,630 | $71,789 (−4.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $81,960 | $87,000 (+9.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.