City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fort Wayne, IN (92.6) and Lexington, KY (92.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fort Wayne, IN goes as far as $100,300 in Lexington, KY.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,079 a month in Lexington, KY versus $916 in Fort Wayne, IN. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Lexington, KY and 14% in Fort Wayne, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $462 a year higher in Lexington, KY 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 Lexington, KY changes real buying power by −0.3%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fort Wayne, IN | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,342 in Lexington | $99,659 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$462/yr.
68 Fair offer
Lexington, KY → Fort Wayne, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$462/yr.
70 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 Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Lexington, KY | Real change, Fort Wayne → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $61,460 | $61,250 (+2.4%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $123,510 | $123,089 (+21.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $77,780 | $77,515 (+3.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $79,040 | $78,770 (−1.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.