Cost of Living in Youngstown, OH
Youngstown-Warren, OH — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Youngstown, OH to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Youngstown, OH?
With a price level of 87.4 (U.S. average = 100), Youngstown, OH is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 47% 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 Youngstown, OH vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.4 | −12.6% |
| Housing | 53.4 | −46.6% |
| Goods | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Utilities | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Youngstown, OH
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $735 | $29,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $771 | $30,840/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $973 | $38,920/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,270 | $50,800/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,345 | $53,800/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Youngstown, 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 Youngstown, OH | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,000 | $30,122 |
| $60,000 | $52,400 | $43,625 |
| $80,000 | $69,900 | $56,865 |
| $100,000 | $87,400 | $68,695 |
| $150,000 | $131,100 | $98,050 |
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 Youngstown, OH's median wage of $43,800 takes home about $3,079 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $771, which is 25% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,308 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Youngstown, OH
- Federal income tax$3,076
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,716
- Medicare (1.45%)$635
- Ohio income tax$422
- Take-home pay$36,951
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Highest-paying jobs in Youngstown, OH
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $80,050 | $63,726 | $72,918 |
| Registered Nurse | $78,680 | $62,800 | $71,859 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $56,810 | $47,047 | $53,833 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $41,540 | $35,197 | $40,274 |
| Office Clerks, General | $40,110 | $34,088 | $39,005 |
| Nursing Assistant | $37,050 | $31,713 | $36,288 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $33,930 | $29,292 | $33,517 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $33,910 | $29,277 | $33,499 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $33,520 | $28,974 | $33,153 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $31,330 | $27,274 | $31,209 |
| Retail Salesperson | $29,080 | $25,528 | $29,211 |
| Cashier | $28,140 | $24,783 | $28,358 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $26,950 | $23,803 | $27,237 |
*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.
Youngstown, OH vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown, OH | 87.4 | $771 | $43,800 | 160,160 |
| Waterbury, CT | 99.8 | $1,445 | $51,440 | 160,710 |
| Gulfport, MS | 90.0 | $925 | $43,470 | 158,310 |
| Eugene, OR | 101.6 | $1,286 | $49,680 | 157,710 |
| Shreveport, LA | 84.8 | $982 | $44,820 | 162,750 |
| Brownsville, TX | 86.0 | $866 | $36,490 | 157,450 |
| Beaumont, TX | 90.0 | $898 | $48,630 | 163,220 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Youngstown, OH expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Youngstown-Warren, OH metro area are 87.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 53.4%. It is the #348 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Youngstown, OH?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,436 in Youngstown, OH (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $43,800.
Can you afford Youngstown, OH on the median wage?
A single worker on the $43,800 median wage takes home about $3,079 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $771 would take 25% of that.
How much is rent in Youngstown, OH?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Youngstown, OH are $735 for a studio, $771 for one bedroom, $973 for two bedrooms and $1,270 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Youngstown, OH
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $80,050
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $78,680
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $37,050
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $31,330
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $33,910
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,950
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $29,080
- Cashier — $28,140
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $40,110
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,810
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $41,540
- Stocker and Order Filler — $33,520