Cleveland, OH Cost of Living (2026)

Cleveland has a cost of living index of 82, about 18% below the national average, making it one of the most affordable cities in the country. The housing index is 55. A one-bedroom apartment in Cleveland rents for around $700 to $1,100 per month in most neighborhoods, and median home prices in the city sit well below $150,000. The median household income is approximately $35,000. For workers who earn average or above-average salaries, Cleveland offers exceptional purchasing power relative to nearly any other major US metro.

A $100,000 salary in Cleveland is worth approximately $122,000 relative to the national average. That's among the strongest cost-of-living advantages of any large US city. Remote workers and those who can work for national employers while living in Cleveland gain a financial position that would require much higher nominal salaries to match in coastal cities.

Ohio has a progressive income tax, and Cleveland and the surrounding municipalities add local income taxes on top. Cleveland itself has a 2.5% city income tax, and the suburb where someone lives may also charge a local income tax, though residents typically receive partial credit to avoid full double taxation. Ohio's state income tax reaches 3.75% at the top bracket. The combined local and state burden is moderate but not negligible.

Like Detroit, Cleveland's affordability reflects a city that has lost significant population over the past 60 years, from a peak of nearly 900,000 in 1950 to roughly 370,000 today. The metro area is larger and more stable than the city itself. Suburbs like Lakewood, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, and Westlake have strong housing markets with good school systems and reasonably maintained infrastructure, and they carry higher prices than the city core. Workers who want affordability without sacrificing basic services typically find a better balance in the inner suburbs than in the city proper.