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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Toledo rent up 5% over the past year. And for many people, rent in #1-ranked Toledo has increased from $1,014 to $1,060/mo over the past 12 months — a 5% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
#1 Ranked: Toledo — cost index 83, rent $1,060/mo, income $47,532
Toledo rent up 5% over the past year
6 of 6 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Toledo rent up 5% over the past year. And for many people, rent in #1-ranked Toledo has increased from $1,014 to $1,060/mo over the past 12 months — a 5% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
The numbers are clear: 6 of 6 cities in Ohio beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Toledo stands out at 83 on the index, with rent of $1,060/month and household income of $47,532. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
What does daily life actually cost in Toledo? Start with the 27% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. Fairly typical for a city this size. On the category level, Housing (index 57) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 85) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $47,532 and homes at $126,270 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
And here's what ties it all together: Across Ohio, the average cost of living index is 88 — 24 points below the national median. Known for Rust Belt revival with some of the lowest costs in the US, the state offers 6 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,261/month. That's $634 less than the national average of $1,895. When healthcare costs are this low, the savings ripple across every other category.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
265,304 residents · Ohio
Dive into Toledo's numbers: cost index 83 (29 points below national average), rent $1,060/month, income $47,532, and a home price of $126,270. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 57, while Healthcare runs 85. With 265,304 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
188,701 residents · Ohio
Why Akron ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 84 on the cost index, residents save roughly 28% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,134/month while the median household pulls in $48,544/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 61, though Healthcare (87) lags behind. Home prices average $134,376 — $332,994 below the national median.
135,512 residents · Ohio
In plain English: What does daily life actually cost in Dayton? Start with the 33% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. And with some exceptions, on the category level, Housing (index 63) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 88) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $43,454 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — and homes at $133,852 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons.
362,656 residents · Ohio
So, Cleveland. Cost index of 87, rent at $1,344/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $39,187, which is below the national median. That's a reasonable number (your mileage may vary — literally).
311,097 residents · Ohio
Here's Cincinnati by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 94. Rent: $1,425/month — we had to double-check this one — . Income: $51,707/year. Home price: $244,309. Population: 311,097. The strongest category is Housing at 85; the most expensive is Healthcare at 97. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $5,640 per year vs. the national median. That's a strong position by any measure.
Toledo ranks #1 in Ohio for this analysis with a cost index of 83 and median income of $47,532.
Toledo, OH has the lowest transportation index at 79, compared to the national average of 100.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Toledo (ranked #1) has a cost index of 83 and rent of $1,060/mo, while Columbus (ranked #6) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,415/mo — a 11-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Toledo is $1,060/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $835 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Toledo is $126,270, which is 2.7× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Ohio has a 3.5% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.24%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.36%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.