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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
This is one of the closest races in our database: the top 5 cities are separated by just 3 points on the cost index. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus, Akron are all within striking distance. At this margin, secondary factors — taxes, rent trends, category-specific costs — become the tiebreake…
362,656 residents · Ohio
Why Cleveland ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 87 on the cost index, residents save roughly 25% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,344/month while the median household pulls in $39,187/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 67, though Healthcare (89) lags behind. Home prices average $113,669 — $353,701 below the national median.
311,097 residents · Ohio
What does daily life actually cost in Cincinnati? Start with the 33% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Housing (index 85) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 97) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $51,707 and homes at $244,309 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
265,304 residents · Ohio
What does daily life actually cost in Toledo? Start with the 27% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And from what we can tell, 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 #3 for clear reasons.
201,877 residents · Ohio
Here's Columbus by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 94. Rent: $1,415/month. Income: $65,327/year. Home price: $243,005. Population: 201,877. The strongest category is Housing at 84; the most expensive is Healthcare at 96. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $5,760 per year vs. the national median. When healthcare costs are this low, the savings ripple across every other category. The definition of value.
188,701 residents · Ohio
Akron earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 84 cost index sits 28 points below the national baseline, and the $48,544 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $134,376 — $332,994 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 61, while Healthcare trails at 87.
#1 Ranked: Cleveland — cost index 87, rent $1,344/mo, income $39,187
Top 5 separated by only 3 points
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
This is one of the closest races in our database: the top 5 cities are separated by just 3 points on the cost index. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus, Akron are all within striking distance. At this margin, secondary factors — taxes, rent trends, category-specific costs — become the tiebreakers. Here's the full breakdown.
Here's Cleveland by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 87. Rent: $1,344/month. Income: $39,187/year. Home price: $113,669. Population: 362,656. The strongest category is Housing at 67; the most expensive is Healthcare at 89. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,612 per year vs. the national median. That's not something you see often in the data.
Bottom line: Cleveland leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Cleveland | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $30,347 |
2Cincinnati | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $30,347 |
3Toledo | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $30,347 |
4Columbus | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $30,347 |
5Akron | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $30,347 |
6Dayton | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $30,347 |
Cleveland ranks #1 in Ohio for this analysis with a cost index of 87 and median income of $39,187.
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.
Cleveland (ranked #1) has a cost index of 87 and rent of $1,344/mo, while Dayton (ranked #6) has a cost index of 85 and rent of $1,186/mo — a 2-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 Cleveland is $1,344/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $551 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Cleveland is $113,669, which is 2.9× 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.