Cost of Living in Cleveland, OH
Cleveland, OH — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Cleveland, OH to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Cleveland, OH?
With a price level of 93.9 (U.S. average = 100), Cleveland, OH is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 21% 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 Cleveland, OH vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.9 | −6.1% |
| Housing | 79.4 | −20.6% |
| Goods | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Utilities | 96.0 | −4.0% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Cleveland, OH
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $923 | $36,920/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,048 | $41,920/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,268 | $50,720/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,629 | $65,160/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,745 | $69,800/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, OH | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,600 | $32,140 |
| $60,000 | $56,400 | $46,729 |
| $80,000 | $75,100 | $60,380 |
| $100,000 | $93,900 | $73,089 |
| $150,000 | $140,900 | $104,479 |
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 Cleveland, OH's median wage of $50,140 takes home about $3,489 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,048, which is 30% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,441 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Cleveland, OH
- Federal income tax$3,837
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,109
- Medicare (1.45%)$727
- Ohio income tax$596
- Take-home pay$41,871
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Cleveland residents also pay a city income tax: about $1,254 a year on the $50,140 median wage, leaving $40,618. Select “Cleveland” under City income tax above to include it.
Highest-paying jobs in Cleveland, 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.
Cleveland, OH vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 93.9 | $1,048 | $50,140 | 1,031,130 |
| Sacramento, CA | 106.7 | $1,812 | $59,750 | 1,080,590 |
| Kansas City, MO | 92.5 | $1,193 | $50,820 | 1,096,110 |
| Nashville, TN | 96.3 | $1,530 | $50,390 | 1,099,300 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 95.7 | $1,242 | $49,340 | 1,105,170 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 94.7 | $1,058 | $49,650 | 1,114,490 |
| San Antonio, TX | 94.7 | $1,171 | $47,010 | 1,126,880 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cleveland, OH expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Cleveland, OH metro area are 93.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 79.4%. It is the #183 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Cleveland, OH?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $56,354 in Cleveland, OH (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $50,140.
Can you afford Cleveland, OH on the median wage?
A single worker on the $50,140 median wage takes home about $3,489 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,048 would take 30% of that.
How much is rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Cleveland, OH are $923 for a studio, $1,048 for one bedroom, $1,268 for two bedrooms and $1,629 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Cleveland, OH
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $157,900
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $156,410
- Sales Manager — $143,870
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $122,770
- Industrial Production Manager — $107,380
- Construction Manager — $101,440
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $99,230
- General and Operations Manager — $97,750
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $95,000
- Management Analyst — $88,260
- Accountant and Auditor — $80,000
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $77,850
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $74,350
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $71,350
- Human Resources Specialist — $70,900
- Training and Development Specialist — $70,060
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $111,310
- Computer Systems Analyst — $101,540
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $96,140
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,890
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Industrial Engineer — $99,300
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $61,620
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $59,630
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $57,860
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $134,680
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $60,960
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $80,580
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $79,890
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $79,610
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $76,470
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $37,380
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $35,520
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Coach and Scout — $48,500
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $140,690
- Nurse Practitioner — $130,800
- Registered Nurse — $83,940
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $66,360
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $63,900
- Pharmacy Technician — $39,310
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $47,800
- Medical Assistant — $43,830
- Nursing Assistant — $39,010
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,520
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $80,280
- Firefighter — $62,720
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $59,370
- Security Guard — $35,890
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,700
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,060
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,930
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,260
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,360
- Bartender — $33,470
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,350
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,400
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $38,230
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,230
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $33,970
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $35,640
- Recreation Worker — $31,380
- Childcare Worker — $30,460
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $76,020
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $75,900
- Insurance Sales Agent — $72,020
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $59,830
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,260
- Retail Salesperson — $31,000
- Cashier — $29,130
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $64,650
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $60,260
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $59,210
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $48,860
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $47,800
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $46,160
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,120
- Customer Service Representative — $46,040
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $80,610
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $71,740
- Electrician — $70,860
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,020
- Carpenter — $60,650
- Construction Laborer — $57,180
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $78,760
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $63,500
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $62,790
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $51,930
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $50,260
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $74,110
- Machinist — $58,240
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,040
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,020
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $48,670
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $46,300
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $44,630
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,160
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,970
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,090
- Light Truck Driver — $43,160
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,680
- Driver/Sales Worker — $38,520
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,440
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,290