Lorain, OH Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Lorain, OH Summary

Cost of living in Lorain 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 Lorain 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 Lorain is 82, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Lorain is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Lorain ranks as the #9 cheapest in Ohio out of 289.

  • Lorain ranks as the #221 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Lorain is $148,599.

  • The median income in Lorain is $45,799.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
82
Lorain's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Lorain, OH?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lorain has an overall cost of living index of 82, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Ohio, Lorain has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Ohio's index of 93.

The standard of living in Lorain ranks as #9 most affordable out of the 289 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Lorain ranks as the #280 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.

For more reading on life in Lorain, check out:

9 out of 289
In Ohio
221 out of 6,489
In America

Lorain Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio

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

  • The Services index in Lorain is 94.

  • The Groceries index in Lorain is 99.

  • The Health index in Lorain is 96.

  • The Housing index in Lorain is 58.

  • The Transportation index in Lorain is 99.

  • The Utilities index in Lorain is 101.

Living Expense Lorain Ohio National Average
Overall 82 93 100
Services 94 101 100
Groceries 99 103 100
Health 96 97 100
Housing 58 74 100
Transportation 99 102 100
Utilities 101 100 100
For more reading on cost of living around Ohio, check out:
Lorain Cost of Living Vs. OH

Lorain, 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 Lorain is $148,599.

  • The Median Rent in Lorain is $839.

  • The Median Income in Lorain is $45,799.

  • The Home Value To Income in Lorain is 3.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Lorain is 0.22x.

Statistic Lorain Ohio United States
Median Home Value $148,599 $240,287 $303,400
Median Rent $839 $988 $1,348
Median Income $45,799 $69,680 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.2x 3.4x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.17x 0.21x
$148,599
Median Home Value
$839
Median Rent
$45,799
Median Income

Lorain, OH Costs By Category

Detailed Lorain Services Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Lorain Ohio
Shampoo $1.45 $1.28
Movie $11.6 $12.13
Bowling $18.27 $18
Haircut $23.67 $24.26
Beauty Salon $35.31 $45.56

Detailed Lorain Groceries Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Lorain Ohio
Ground Beef $5.46 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.39 $1.57
Milk $4.57 $4.67
Potatoes $5.38 $4.93
Pizza $9.98 $12.09
Beer $10.51 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.68 $3.7

Detailed Lorain Health Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Lorain Ohio
Optometrist $103.58 $125.68
Doctor $119.67 $135.78
Dentist $109.73 $113.29

Detailed Lorain Transportation Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Lorain Ohio
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $57.76 $59.92

Detailed Lorain Utilities Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Lorain Ohio
All Electricity $205.88 $193.99
Phone $186.78 $192.25

Lorain SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
5
Affordability
8
Diversity
9.5
Safety
4
Amenities
9
Education
4
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lorain

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

  • Elyria, OH has a cost of living index of 88, 1.1x Lorain.

  • Lakewood, OH has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Lorain.

  • North Ridgeville, OH has a cost of living index of 100, 1.2x Lorain.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Lorain
Elyria, OH 52,833 88 1.1x
Lakewood, OH 50,229 94 1.1x
North Ridgeville, OH 36,043 100 1.2x
Westlake, OH 34,036 110 1.3x
North Olmsted, OH 32,031 96 1.2x
Avon Lake, OH 25,456 108 1.3x
Avon, OH 25,082 114 1.4x
Rocky River, OH 21,490 106 1.3x
Fairview Park, OH 17,049 93 1.1x
Middleburg Heights, OH 15,817 95 1.2x

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