City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Kingsport, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 7.1% higher than in Kingsport, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Kingsport, TN would need about $107,100 in Fort Wayne, IN to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $916 a month in Fort Wayne, IN versus $818 in Kingsport, TN. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Fort Wayne, IN and 12% in Kingsport, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,921 a year higher in Fort Wayne, IN than in Kingsport, TN.
- 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 Kingsport, TN changes real buying power by +7.1%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Kingsport, TN: price level 86.4 (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 | Kingsport, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 86.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,384 in Kingsport | $107,085 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $45,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 56.5 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 75.9 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 95.8 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 86.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Kingsport, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.1%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax −$2,921/yr.
91 Strong offer
Kingsport, TN → Fort Wayne, IN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$2,921/yr.
48 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 Kingsport, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Kingsport, TN | Real change, Fort Wayne → Kingsport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +7.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +7.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +7.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +7.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +7.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Kingsport, TN | Kingsport pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $58,130 | $62,249 (+4.1%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $115,310 | $123,480 (+21.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $75,940 | $81,321 (+8.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $76,730 | $82,167 (+3.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.