What is the cost of living in Cincinnati, OH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cincinnati has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Ohio, Cincinnati has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Ohio's index of 90.
The standard of living in Cincinnati ranks as #180 most affordable out of the 284 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Cincinnati ranks as the #104 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.
For more reading on life in Cincinnati, check out:
Cincinnati Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cincinnati. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cincinnati is 98.
The Groceries index in Cincinnati is 99.
The Health index in Cincinnati is 82.
The Housing index in Cincinnati is 98.
The Transportation index in Cincinnati is 96.
The Utilities index in Cincinnati is 97.
| Living Expense | Cincinnati | Ohio | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 82 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 97 | 100 |
Cincinnati Cost Of Living Compared To Ohio Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Ohio, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Cincinnati Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cincinnati, 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Cincinnati is $249,567.
The Median Rent in Cincinnati is $1,001.
The Median Income in Cincinnati is $52,909.
The Home Value To Income in Cincinnati is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cincinnati is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Cincinnati | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $249,567 | $242,141 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,001 | $1,034 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,909 | $71,389 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Cincinnati, OH Costs By Category
Detailed Cincinnati Services costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Cincinnati | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.35 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.56 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.13 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.93 | $45.56 |
Detailed Cincinnati Groceries costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Cincinnati | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.91 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.72 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.8 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.05 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.92 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.63 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.6 | $3.7 |
Detailed Cincinnati Health costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Cincinnati | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $105.42 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $159.4 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $106.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cincinnati Transportation costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Cincinnati | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $73.09 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cincinnati Utilities costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Cincinnati | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $197.1 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.48 | $192.25 |
Cincinnati SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cincinnati
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cincinnati. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mason, OH has a cost of living index of 117, 1.2x Cincinnati.
Norwood, OH has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Cincinnati.
Fort Thomas, KY has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Cincinnati.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason, OH | 35,509 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Norwood, OH | 19,114 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Fort Thomas, KY | 17,169 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Newport, KY | 13,967 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Monfort Heights, OH | 12,441 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Mack, OH | 11,516 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Montgomery, OH | 10,855 | 122 | 1.3x |
| Forestville, OH | 10,831 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Madeira, OH | 9,484 | 118 | 1.3x |
| Wyoming, OH | 8,723 | 116 | 1.2x |
