Cost of Living in Toledo, OH
Toledo, OH — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Toledo, OH to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Toledo, OH?
With a price level of 91.5 (U.S. average = 100), Toledo, OH is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 33% 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 Toledo, OH vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.5 | −8.5% |
| Housing | 67.3 | −32.7% |
| Goods | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Utilities | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Toledo, OH
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $769 | $30,760/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $820 | $32,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,076 | $43,040/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,380 | $55,200/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,454 | $58,160/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Toledo, 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 Toledo, OH | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,600 | $31,364 |
| $60,000 | $54,900 | $45,565 |
| $80,000 | $73,200 | $59,096 |
| $100,000 | $91,500 | $71,466 |
| $150,000 | $137,200 | $102,052 |
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 Toledo, OH's median wage of $48,220 takes home about $3,365 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $820, which is 24% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,545 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Toledo, OH
- Federal income tax$3,606
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,990
- Medicare (1.45%)$699
- Ohio income tax$544
- Take-home pay$40,381
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Toledo residents also pay a city income tax: about $1,206 a year on the $48,220 median wage, leaving $39,176. Select “Toledo” under City income tax above to include it.
Highest-paying jobs in Toledo, 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.
Toledo, OH vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo, OH | 91.5 | $820 | $48,220 | 291,530 |
| Stockton, CA | 105.1 | $1,395 | $48,990 | 289,660 |
| Portland, ME | 101.9 | $1,548 | $56,960 | 288,480 |
| Lexington, KY | 92.9 | $1,079 | $48,620 | 286,910 |
| McAllen, TX | 85.9 | $847 | $35,830 | 296,700 |
| Syracuse, NY | 95.7 | $1,123 | $52,990 | 300,130 |
| New Haven, CT | 104.6 | $1,591 | $60,060 | 281,410 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Toledo, OH expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Toledo, OH metro area are 91.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 67.3%. It is the #260 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Toledo, OH?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,873 in Toledo, OH (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,220.
Can you afford Toledo, OH on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,220 median wage takes home about $3,365 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $820 would take 24% of that.
How much is rent in Toledo, OH?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Toledo, OH are $769 for a studio, $820 for one bedroom, $1,076 for two bedrooms and $1,380 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Toledo, OH
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $95,120
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,930
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $63,250
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,120
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $81,050
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $39,700
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,550
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,230
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,140
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,560
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,570
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $65,800
- Retail Salesperson — $30,780
- Cashier — $29,270
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,780
- Customer Service Representative — $42,970
- Office Clerks, General — $41,600
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $57,170
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $49,740
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,410
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,100
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,640
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,000