City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 1.5% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $101,500 in Fort Wayne, IN to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $916 a month in Fort Wayne, IN versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Fort Wayne, IN and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,885 a year higher in Peoria, IL 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 Peoria, IL changes real buying power by +1.5%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (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 | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,551 in Peoria | $101,470 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Peoria, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.5%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$1,885/yr.
73 Strong offer
Peoria, IL → Fort Wayne, IN
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,885/yr.
64 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 Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Peoria, IL | Real change, Fort Wayne → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $57,440 | $58,284 (−2.5%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $130,590 | $132,510 (+30.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $79,540 | $80,709 (+7.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $81,010 | $82,201 (+3.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.