City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Gulfport, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 2.9% higher than in Gulfport, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Gulfport, MS would need about $102,900 in Fort Wayne, IN to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $916 a month in Fort Wayne, IN and $923 in Gulfport, MS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $348 a year higher in Gulfport, MS 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 Gulfport, MS changes real buying power by +2.9%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Gulfport, MS: price level 90.0 (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 | Gulfport, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 90.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,228 in Gulfport | $102,851 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $923/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $43,470 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Gulfport-Biloxi, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Gulfport-Biloxi, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Gulfport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 67.9 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 76.3 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 90.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Gulfport, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$348/yr.
78 Strong offer
Gulfport, MS → Fort Wayne, IN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$348/yr.
60 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 Gulfport, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Gulfport, MS | Real change, Fort Wayne → Gulfport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Gulfport, MS | Gulfport pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $50,820 | $52,269 (−12.6%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $104,240 | $107,212 (+5.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $76,380 | $78,558 (+4.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $78,960 | $81,211 (+2.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.