Oberlin, OH Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Oberlin. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Oberlin compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Oberlin, Ohio

Cost of living in Oberlin 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 Oberlin 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:

91 Cost of living index 0.9x lower vs US
#138 Cheapest in Ohio (of 284)
#1,207 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$238,965 Median home value
$995 Median rent
$81,308 Median income
Not sure Oberlin fits your budget? Try our place-match quiz →

What is the cost of living in Oberlin, OH?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Oberlin has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Ohio, Oberlin has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Ohio's index of 90.

The standard of living in Oberlin ranks as #138 most affordable out of the 284 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Oberlin ranks as the #146 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.

For more reading on life in Oberlin, check out:

Oberlin Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio

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

  • The Services index in Oberlin is 98.

  • The Groceries index in Oberlin is 97.

  • The Health index in Oberlin is 88.

  • The Housing index in Oberlin is 94.

  • The Transportation index in Oberlin is 93.

  • The Utilities index in Oberlin is 95.

Living Expense Oberlin Ohio National Average
Overall 91 90 100
Services 98 97 100
Groceries 97 97 100
Health 88 75 100
Housing 94 97 100
Transportation 93 95 100
Utilities 95 97 100

Oberlin Cost Of Living Compared To Ohio Averages

Services
Oberlin 98
Ohio avg 97
Groceries
Oberlin 97
Ohio avg 97
Health
Oberlin 88
Ohio avg 75
Housing
Oberlin 94
Ohio avg 97
Transportation
Oberlin 93
Ohio avg 95
Utilities
Oberlin 95
Ohio avg 97

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 Oberlin Get matched →

Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Oberlin, OH Housing Cost Breakdown

$238,965Median Home Value
$995Median Rent
$81,308Median Income

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 Oberlin is $238,965.

  • The Median Rent in Oberlin is $995.

  • The Median Income in Oberlin is $81,308.

  • The Home Value To Income in Oberlin is 2.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Oberlin is 0.15x.

Statistic Oberlin Ohio United States
Median Home Value $238,965 $242,141 $332,700
Median Rent $995 $1,034 $1,413
Median Income $81,308 $71,389 $80,734
Home Value To Income 2.9x 3.4x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.15x 0.17x 0.21x

Oberlin, OH Costs By Category

Detailed Oberlin Services costs vs. Ohio
Item Oberlin 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 Oberlin Groceries costs vs. Ohio
Item Oberlin 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 Oberlin Health costs vs. Ohio
Item Oberlin Ohio
Optometrist $103.58 $125.68
Doctor $119.67 $135.78
Dentist $109.73 $113.29
Detailed Oberlin Transportation costs vs. Ohio
Item Oberlin Ohio
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $57.76 $59.92
Detailed Oberlin Utilities costs vs. Ohio
Item Oberlin Ohio
All Electricity $205.88 $193.99
Phone $186.78 $192.25

Oberlin SnackAbility

8Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 6/10
Housing 6/10
Affordability 7/10
Diversity 8.5/10
Safety 8/10
Amenities 8/10
Education 8.5/10
Commute 10/10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Oberlin

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Oberlin. 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 87, 1.0x Oberlin.

  • North Ridgeville, OH has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Oberlin.

  • Westlake, OH has a cost of living index of 110, 1.2x Oberlin.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Oberlin
Elyria, OH 53,035 87 1.0x
North Ridgeville, OH 36,627 100 1.1x
Westlake, OH 34,104 110 1.2x
North Olmsted, OH 31,924 96 1.1x
Avon Lake, OH 25,752 110 1.2x
Avon, OH 25,317 114 1.3x
Berea, OH 18,218 93 1.0x
Amherst, OH 12,906 91 1.0x
Vermilion, OH 10,343 89 1.0x
Olmsted Falls, OH 8,639 95 1.0x