Cost of Living in Ohio
Updated November 2026 · population 11,810,293
Ohio prices are 7.2% below the US average (index 92.8), ranking 35th most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest saving at 73.0, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,293 a month.
Prices by category
Ohio price index by category, US average = 100: All items 92.8, Housing (rents) 73.0, Goods 93.7, Utilities 95.8, Other services 98.9
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Ohio (whole state) | 92.8 |
| Metropolitan areas of Ohio | 93.6 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Ohio | 88.3 |
Cities in Ohio
Select a column heading to sort.
| Columbus | 914,802 | 94.9 | $2,581 | $5,025 | $1,295 | $252,900 |
| Cleveland | 366,097 | 91.1 | $2,222 | $4,655 | $945 | $102,000 |
| Cincinnati | 311,224 | 92.8 | $2,355 | $4,820 | $1,001 | $230,900 |
| Toledo | 267,463 | 90.8 | $2,144 | $4,620 | $901 | $114,500 |
| Akron | 189,247 | 90.4 | $2,182 | $4,617 | $955 | $122,000 |
| Dayton | 136,579 | 90.6 | $2,150 | $4,585 | $918 | $100,600 |
| Parma | 79,870 | 92.9 | $2,399 | $4,917 | $1,087 | $170,100 |
| Canton | 69,755 | 89.1 | $2,104 | $4,472 | $850 | $97,800 |
| Lorain | 65,395 | 90.4 | $2,125 | $4,546 | $887 | $139,200 |
| Hamilton | 63,468 | 92.9 | $2,237 | $4,675 | $1,007 | $165,200 |
| Youngstown | 59,331 | 88.0 | $1,999 | $4,390 | $728 | $63,300 |
| Springfield | 58,190 | 89.9 | $2,095 | $4,519 | $851 | $116,800 |
| Kettering | 57,206 | 92.3 | $2,348 | $4,872 | $1,051 | $208,500 |
| Elyria | 53,035 | 90.6 | $2,157 | $4,594 | $906 | $156,100 |
| Middletown | 51,617 | 92.9 | $2,269 | $4,643 | $1,007 | $164,400 |
| Cuyahoga Falls | 50,909 | 91.4 | $2,357 | $4,730 | $1,038 | $183,300 |
| Newark | 50,783 | 91.0 | $2,205 | $4,722 | $973 | $192,300 |
| Lakewood | 50,007 | 92.7 | $2,411 | $5,094 | $1,070 | $262,200 |
Metro areas in Ohio
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 95.5 | 87.9 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 95.4 | 87.6 |
| Cleveland, OH | 93.9 | 79.4 |
| Akron, OH | 93.4 | 76.8 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 92.7 | 72.7 |
| Toledo, OH | 91.5 | 67.3 |
| Springfield, OH | 90.5 | 61.7 |
| Lima, OH | 89.7 | 57.3 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 89.4 | 58.1 |
| Sandusky, OH | 89.3 | 59.5 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 89.0 | 52.4 |
| Mansfield, OH | 88.9 | 54.9 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 88.4 | 51.3 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 88.3 | 51.4 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 87.4 | 53.4 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Ohio.
Modelled monthly budget at Ohio average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Ohio (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $669 | $8,028 | 29% |
| Utilities | $261 | $3,132 | 11% |
| Food at home | $264 | $3,168 | 12% |
| Transportation | $592 | $7,104 | 26% |
| Health care | $348 | $4,176 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $159 | $1,908 | 7% |
| Total | $2,293 | $27,516 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Ohio (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $858 | $10,296 | 22% |
| Utilities | $414 | $4,968 | 11% |
| Food at home | $488 | $5,856 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,171 | $14,052 | 30% |
| Health care | $645 | $7,740 | 17% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $313 | $3,756 | 8% |
| Total | $3,889 | $46,668 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Ohio (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $950 | $11,400 | 20% |
| Utilities | $504 | $6,048 | 11% |
| Food at home | $696 | $8,352 | 15% |
| Transportation | $1,559 | $18,708 | 33% |
| Health care | $601 | $7,212 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $403 | $4,836 | 9% |
| Total | $4,713 | $56,556 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
19.38¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +10.4% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline
$4.09/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +41.0% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the Midwest region rose +4.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 93.3 | 91.9 | 92.2 | 91.5 | 91.9 | 92.8 |
Change over the period: −0.5 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ohio an expensive state to live in?
Ohio has a cost of living index of 92.8 (US = 100), 7.2% below the US average. It ranks 35th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 73.0 (rank 38), goods 93.7, utilities 95.8 and other services 98.9. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Ohio?
At Ohio state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,293 for a single adult, $3,889 for a couple and $4,713 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 93.6 and nonmetro areas 88.3.
What is the median rent and home value in Ohio?
The median gross rent in Ohio is $1,034 a month and the median home value is $214,800 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 28.3% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 39.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Ohio, 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, Midwest region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology