What is the cost of living in Salem, OH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salem has an overall cost of living index of 82, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Ohio, Salem has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Ohio's index of 90.
The standard of living in Salem ranks as #15 most affordable out of the 284 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #269 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.
For more reading on life in Salem, check out:
Salem Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salem is 97.
The Groceries index in Salem is 95.
The Health index in Salem is 58.
The Housing index in Salem is 95.
The Transportation index in Salem is 95.
The Utilities index in Salem is 95.
| Living Expense | Salem | Ohio | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 58 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 97 | 100 |
Salem 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 Salem Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Salem, 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 Salem is $181,905.
The Median Rent in Salem is $763.
The Median Income in Salem is $47,073.
The Home Value To Income in Salem is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.19x.
Salem, OH Costs By Category
Detailed Salem Services costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Salem Groceries costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Salem Health costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Salem Transportation costs vs. Ohio
Salem SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Salem
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Salem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Youngstown, OH has a cost of living index of 76, 0.9x Salem.
Austintown, OH has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Salem.
Alliance, OH has a cost of living index of 84, 1.0x Salem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown, OH | 59,331 | 76 | 0.9x |
| Austintown, OH | 30,164 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Alliance, OH | 21,478 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Struthers, OH | 9,923 | 81 | 1.0x |
| Girard, OH | 9,505 | 83 | 1.0x |
| Campbell, OH | 7,784 | 80 | 1.0x |
| Canfield, OH | 7,649 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Columbiana, OH | 6,903 | 92 | 1.1x |
