What is the cost of living in Upper Arlington, OH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Upper Arlington has an overall cost of living index of 132, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Ohio, Upper Arlington has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than Ohio's index of 90.
The standard of living in Upper Arlington ranks as #280 most affordable out of the 284 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Upper Arlington ranks as the #4 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.
For more reading on life in Upper Arlington, check out:
Upper Arlington Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Upper Arlington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Upper Arlington is 96.
The Groceries index in Upper Arlington is 99.
The Health index in Upper Arlington is 208.
The Housing index in Upper Arlington is 98.
The Transportation index in Upper Arlington is 98.
The Utilities index in Upper Arlington is 97.
| Living Expense | Upper Arlington | Ohio | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 132 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 208 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 97 | 100 |
Upper Arlington 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 Upper Arlington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Upper Arlington, 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 Upper Arlington is $632,819.
The Median Rent in Upper Arlington is $1,588.
The Median Income in Upper Arlington is $155,167.
The Home Value To Income in Upper Arlington is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Upper Arlington is 0.12x.
| Statistic | Upper Arlington | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $632,819 | $242,141 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,588 | $1,034 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $155,167 | $71,389 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.12x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Upper Arlington, OH Costs By Category
Detailed Upper Arlington Services costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Upper Arlington | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.32 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.46 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $42.47 | $45.56 |
Detailed Upper Arlington Groceries costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Upper Arlington | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.63 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.61 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.24 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.68 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.69 | $3.7 |
Detailed Upper Arlington Health costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Upper Arlington | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $65.99 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $117.73 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $89.3 | $113.29 |
Detailed Upper Arlington Transportation costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Upper Arlington | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.42 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $41.79 | $59.92 |
Detailed Upper Arlington Utilities costs vs. Ohio
| Item | Upper Arlington | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.76 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.03 | $192.25 |
Upper Arlington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Upper Arlington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Upper Arlington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Columbus, OH has a cost of living index of 96, 0.7x Upper Arlington.
Dublin, OH has a cost of living index of 125, 0.9x Upper Arlington.
Westerville, OH has a cost of living index of 108, 0.8x Upper Arlington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Upper Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 914,802 | 96 | 0.7x |
| Dublin, OH | 49,294 | 125 | 0.9x |
| Westerville, OH | 38,645 | 108 | 0.8x |
| Hilliard, OH | 38,033 | 109 | 0.8x |
| Gahanna, OH | 35,486 | 104 | 0.8x |
| Worthington, OH | 14,938 | 111 | 0.8x |
| Powell, OH | 14,451 | 125 | 0.9x |
| Bexley, OH | 13,114 | 126 | 1.0x |
| New Albany, OH | 10,896 | 146 | 1.1x |
| Canal Winchester, OH | 10,170 | 98 | 0.7x |








