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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ohio is a genuine bargain: 6 of the 6 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. That alone makes it worth considering. Cleveland leads at an index of 78 with rent at just $1,344/month — 29% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from feder…
#1 Ranked: Cleveland — cost index 78, rent $1,344/mo, income $39,187
Cleveland rent up 5% over the past year
6 of 6 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Ohio is a genuine bargain: 6 of the 6 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. That alone makes it worth considering. Cleveland leads at an index of 78 with rent at just $1,344/month — 29% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
If you've ever wondered why some 'cheap' cities don't feel cheap, this explains it: Cleveland rent up 5% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Cleveland has increased from $1,285 to $1,344/mo over the past 12 months — a 5% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. That's a strong position by any measure (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling). Solidly above average.
Cleveland is one of the cheaper options here. And more often than not, rent is $1,344/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 78. Income sits at $39,187. You get the picture. An outlier in the best sense.
Frankly, Tax burden isn't just income tax. We combine three layers: state income tax (3.5% in Cleveland), combined state+local sales tax (7.24%), and effective property tax (1.36%). At 3.5% state income tax, the real differentiator becomes sales and property tax rates. On a $75,000 — though some people might weigh that differently — salary, the estimated take-home in #1 Cleveland is $55,085/year.
Solidly above average.
Perhaps more importantly, Across Ohio, the average cost of living index is 74 — 37 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. If you're debt-free, those savings go straight to building wealth.
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 |
362,656 residents · Ohio
A closer look at Cleveland: the cost index of 78 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — breaks down to a Housing index of 78 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 96 (weakest). And broadly, median rent is $1,344/month — 29% below the national median — while household income sits at $39,187, meaning locals spend about 41% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
311,097 residents · Ohio
In plain English: Cincinnati is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,425/month — for better or worse — , which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 83. Income sits at $51,707. That alone makes it worth considering.
265,304 residents · Ohio
Toledo earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. It lines up with what you'd expect. The 62 cost index sits 49 points below the national baseline, and the $47,532 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $126,270 — $341,100 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 62, while Healthcare trails at 92 (that's pre-tax, of course). Worth a deeper look.
201,877 residents · Ohio
The numbers for Columbus are straightforward: 83 on the cost index, $1,415/month rent, $65,327 income. And more often than not, not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. No major red flags in that number.
188,701 residents · Ohio
Why Akron ranks #5: the numbers tell a clear story. At 66 on the cost index, residents save roughly 45% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,134/month — a detail that tends to get overlooked — while the median household pulls in $48,544/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 66, though Healthcare (93) lags behind. Home prices average $134,376 — $332,994 below the national median.
Total tax burden = state income tax rate + combined sales tax rate + effective property tax rate. We rank cities from lowest combined burden to highest. Keep in mind property tax and sales tax are local-level, so two cities in the same state can differ meaningfully. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Cleveland ranks #1 in Ohio for this analysis with a cost index of 78 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 78 and rent of $1,344/mo, while Dayton (ranked #6) has a cost index of 69 and rent of $1,186/mo — a 9-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.