Cost of Living in Akron, OH
Akron, OH — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Akron, OH to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Akron, OH?
With a price level of 93.4 (U.S. average = 100), Akron, OH is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 23% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 4% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Akron, OH vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.4 | −6.6% |
| Housing | 76.8 | −23.2% |
| Goods | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Utilities | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Akron, OH
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $904 | $36,160/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $985 | $39,400/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,268 | $50,720/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,547 | $61,880/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,681 | $67,240/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Akron, OH
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Akron, OH | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,300 | $31,907 |
| $60,000 | $56,000 | $46,418 |
| $80,000 | $74,700 | $60,110 |
| $100,000 | $93,400 | $72,751 |
| $150,000 | $140,100 | $103,954 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Ohio 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Akron, OH's median wage of $48,840 takes home about $3,405 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $985, which is 29% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,420 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Akron, OH
- Federal income tax$3,681
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,028
- Medicare (1.45%)$708
- Ohio income tax$561
- Take-home pay$40,862
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Akron residents also pay a city income tax: about $1,221 a year on the $48,840 median wage, leaving $39,641. Select “Akron” under City income tax above to include it.
Highest-paying jobs in Akron, OH
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Ohio cities
Half of Ohio’s 5,550,180 workers earn less than $49,380 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,820–$77,570 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Dayton, OH stretches a paycheck furthest, while Wheeling, WV is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $51,340 | 95.5 | $1,179 | 33% | $2,388 | $44,834 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $50,170 | 95.4 | $1,043 | 30% | $2,448 | $43,928 |
| Cleveland, OH | $50,140 | 93.9 | $1,048 | 30% | $2,441 | $44,580 |
| Dayton, OH | $49,980 | 92.7 | $1,009 | 29% | $2,470 | $45,037 |
| Akron, OH | $48,840 | 93.4 | $985 | 29% | $2,420 | $43,764 |
| Toledo, OH | $48,220 | 91.5 | $820 | 24% | $2,545 | $44,154 |
| Canton, OH | $45,810 | 89.4 | $846 | 26% | $2,363 | $43,074 |
| Youngstown, OH | $43,800 | 87.4 | $771 | 25% | $2,308 | $42,281 |
| Huntington, WV | $44,600 | 88.4 | $829 | 26% | $2,302 | $42,492 |
| Wheeling, WV | $44,250 | 88.3 | $816 | 26% | $2,292 | $42,232 |
| Sandusky, OH | $44,970 | 89.3 | $871 | 28% | $2,284 | $42,404 |
| Lima, OH | $47,170 | 89.7 | $844 | 26% | $2,453 | $44,125 |
| Mansfield, OH | $44,700 | 88.9 | $773 | 25% | $2,364 | $42,364 |
| Springfield, OH | $45,470 | 90.5 | $843 | 26% | $2,344 | $42,270 |
| Weirton, WV | $45,840 | 89.0 | $757 | 24% | $2,454 | $43,285 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Akron, OH vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 93.4 | $985 | $48,840 | 319,560 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 100.7 | $1,461 | $52,710 | 316,060 |
| Oxnard, CA | 110.5 | $2,250 | $52,510 | 323,890 |
| Wichita, KS | 88.9 | $848 | $47,630 | 308,570 |
| Cape Coral, FL | 102.3 | $1,638 | $46,780 | 304,790 |
| Provo, UT | 98.2 | $1,265 | $48,010 | 304,660 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 98.7 | $1,212 | $49,610 | 335,010 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Akron, OH expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Akron, OH metro area are 93.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 76.8%. It is the #200 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Akron, OH?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $56,022 in Akron, OH (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,840.
Can you afford Akron, OH on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,840 median wage takes home about $3,405 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $985 would take 29% of that.
How much is rent in Akron, OH?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Akron, OH are $904 for a studio, $985 for one bedroom, $1,268 for two bedrooms and $1,547 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Akron, OH
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $98,340
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $78,540
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $81,820
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $35,960
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,770
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $39,250
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,310
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,320
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,150
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,030
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,690
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $74,990
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $58,050
- Retail Salesperson — $31,060
- Cashier — $29,480
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $64,620
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $49,180
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,140
- Customer Service Representative — $45,420
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $43,090
- Office Clerks, General — $42,940
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $52,420
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,530
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,210
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,590
- Light Truck Driver — $40,280
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $39,100
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,600