City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Roanoke, VA are 1.1% higher than in Fort Wayne, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Fort Wayne, IN would need about $101,100 in Roanoke, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,053 a month in Roanoke, VA versus $916 in Fort Wayne, IN. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Roanoke, VA and 14% in Fort Wayne, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,015 a year higher in Roanoke, VA 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 Roanoke, VA changes real buying power by −1.1%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fort Wayne, IN | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,130 in Roanoke | $98,883 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Roanoke, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$2,015/yr.
65 Fair offer
Roanoke, VA → Fort Wayne, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$2,015/yr.
72 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 Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Fort Wayne → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $62,010 | $61,317 (+2.5%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $121,110 | $119,757 (+17.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $77,240 | $76,377 (+1.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $80,090 | $79,195 (−0.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.