What is the cost of living in Cleveland, OH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cleveland has an overall cost of living index of 80, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Ohio, Cleveland has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Ohio's index of 90.
The standard of living in Cleveland ranks as #3 most affordable out of the 284 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Cleveland ranks as the #281 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.
For more reading on life in Cleveland, check out:
Cleveland Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cleveland. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cleveland is 96.
The Groceries index in Cleveland is 91.
The Health index in Cleveland is 48.
The Housing index in Cleveland is 91.
The Transportation index in Cleveland is 98.
The Utilities index in Cleveland is 97.
| Living Expense | Cleveland | Ohio | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 80 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 91 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 48 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 91 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 97 | 100 |
Cleveland 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 Cleveland Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cleveland, 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 Cleveland is $115,536.
The Median Rent in Cleveland is $945.
The Median Income in Cleveland is $40,801.
The Home Value To Income in Cleveland is 2.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cleveland is 0.28x.
Cleveland, OH Costs By Category
Detailed Cleveland Services costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Cleveland Groceries costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Cleveland Health costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Cleveland Transportation costs vs. Ohio
Cleveland SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cleveland
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cleveland. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lakewood, OH has a cost of living index of 94, 1.2x Cleveland.
Strongsville, OH has a cost of living index of 101, 1.3x Cleveland.
Cleveland Heights, OH has a cost of living index of 90, 1.1x Cleveland.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cleveland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, OH | 50,007 | 94 | 1.2x |
| Strongsville, OH | 45,983 | 101 | 1.3x |
| Cleveland Heights, OH | 44,497 | 90 | 1.1x |
| Westlake, OH | 34,104 | 110 | 1.4x |
| North Olmsted, OH | 31,924 | 96 | 1.2x |
| Garfield Heights, OH | 29,269 | 85 | 1.1x |
| Shaker Heights, OH | 28,922 | 103 | 1.3x |
| Solon, OH | 23,943 | 114 | 1.4x |
| Rocky River, OH | 21,490 | 108 | 1.4x |
| Broadview Heights, OH | 19,771 | 101 | 1.3x |
