City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Mobile, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 5.1% higher than in Mobile, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Mobile, AL would need about $105,100 in Fort Wayne, IN to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $916 a month in Fort Wayne, IN and $919 in Mobile, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,815 a year higher in Mobile, AL 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 Mobile, AL changes real buying power by +5.1%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Mobile, AL: price level 88.1 (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 | Mobile, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 88.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,167 in Mobile | $105,078 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $919/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $47,000 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Mobile, AL MSA. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Mobile, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 60.1 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 84.2 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 88.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Mobile, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,815/yr.
85 Strong offer
Mobile, AL → Fort Wayne, IN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,815/yr.
54 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 Mobile, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Mobile, AL | Real change, Fort Wayne → Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +5.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +5.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +5.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +5.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +5.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Mobile, AL | Mobile pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $60,970 | $64,066 (+7.1%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $122,540 | $128,763 (+26.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $72,130 | $75,793 (+0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $79,490 | $83,527 (+4.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.