Athens, OH Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Athens, OH Summary

Cost of living in Athens research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Athens is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Ohio, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Athens is 96, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Athens is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • Athens ranks as the #191 cheapest in Ohio out of 289.

  • Athens ranks as the #2,104 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Athens is $240,070.

  • The median income in Athens is $37,059.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
96
Athens's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Athens, OH?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Athens has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Ohio, Athens has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Ohio's index of 93.

The standard of living in Athens ranks as #191 most affordable out of the 289 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Athens ranks as the #98 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.

For more reading on life in Athens, check out:

191 out of 289
In Ohio
2,104 out of 6,489
In America

Athens Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Athens. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Athens is 95.

  • The Groceries index in Athens is 103.

  • The Health index in Athens is 86.

  • The Housing index in Athens is 100.

  • The Transportation index in Athens is 89.

  • The Utilities index in Athens is 94.

Living Expense Athens Ohio National Average
Overall 96 93 100
Services 95 101 100
Groceries 103 103 100
Health 86 97 100
Housing 100 74 100
Transportation 89 102 100
Utilities 94 100 100
For more reading on cost of living around Ohio, check out:
Athens Cost of Living Vs. OH

Athens, OH Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Ohio, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Athens is $240,070.

  • The Median Rent in Athens is $1,029.

  • The Median Income in Athens is $37,059.

  • The Home Value To Income in Athens is 6.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Athens is 0.33x.

Statistic Athens Ohio United States
Median Home Value $240,070 $240,287 $303,400
Median Rent $1,029 $988 $1,348
Median Income $37,059 $69,680 $78,538
Home Value To Income 6.5x 3.4x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.33x 0.17x 0.21x
$240,070
Median Home Value
$1,029
Median Rent
$37,059
Median Income

Athens, OH Costs By Category

Detailed Athens Services Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Athens Ohio
Shampoo $1.32 $1.28
Movie $12.0 $12.13
Bowling $19.07 $18
Haircut $21.46 $24.26
Beauty Salon $42.47 $45.56

Detailed Athens Groceries Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Athens Ohio
Ground Beef $5.63 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.61 $1.57
Milk $4.76 $4.67
Potatoes $5.24 $4.93
Pizza $11.49 $12.09
Beer $10.68 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.69 $3.7

Detailed Athens Health Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Athens Ohio
Optometrist $65.99 $125.68
Doctor $117.73 $135.78
Dentist $89.3 $113.29

Detailed Athens Transportation Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Athens Ohio
Gasoline $3.42 $3.46
Tire Balancing $41.79 $59.92

Detailed Athens Utilities Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Athens Ohio
All Electricity $182.76 $193.99
Phone $186.03 $192.25

Athens SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
8
Affordability
3
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
9
Commute
9.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Athens

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Athens. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Murray, UT has a cost of living index of 117, 1.2x Athens.

  • Lancaster, OH has a cost of living index of 90, 0.9x Athens.

  • Centerville, OH has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Athens.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Athens
Murray, UT 49,904 117 1.2x
Lancaster, OH 40,902 90 0.9x
Centerville, OH 24,815 101 1.1x
Circleville, OH 14,144 87 0.9x
Marietta, OH 13,282 87 0.9x
Logan, OH 7,077 83 0.9x
Belpre, OH 6,668 88 0.9x

Articles About Ohio

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