A+
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
41%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Cambridge Ohio National
Cost of living8492100
Goods & Services94100100
Groceries104101100
Health care8598100
Housing5973100
Transportation90100100
Utilities9599100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Cambridge, OH

Knowing the cost of living in Cambridge allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Cambridge stands at 84, marking it 16% lower than the national average.

Housing expenses can absorb a substantial portion of your net income, sometimes exceeding 30%. Thankfully, Cambridge stands out by reporting housing costs that are 41% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more budget-friendly compared to the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, residents of Cambridge can allocate a more reasonable portion of their income to housing, allowing for greater financial flexibility.

Is Cambridge Affordable?

Is Cambridge affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Cambridge, for instance, where the median home price falls 47.6% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 25.5% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Cambridge flaunting a median household income of $35,124, 36.5% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Cambridge?

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Cambridge, the housing index is 41% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Cambridge, the standard sales tax rate starts at 5.75%, and the income tax rates commence at 0%.

Where is the Data From?

The Cambridge cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in Cambridge Area
Search Homes for Sale in Cambridge, OH

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Cambridge is 9% lower than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Cambridge is 16% lower than the national average
  • Cambridge housing is 41% lower than the national average
  • Ohio general sales tax is 13% higher than the national average
  • Ohio state income tax is 6% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Cambridge

See all the best places to live around Cambridge

Compare Cambridge, OH Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Cambridge?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Cambridge?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Cambridge poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$58,021$4,835$1,354$1,741
      Renters$19,603$1,634$457$588
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Cambridge is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Cambridge has a median income of about $58,021 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,354 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $19,603. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $457 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Ohio Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Ohio 5.75% 8%

      Ohio Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Ohio 2.76% 3.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.46$24.2611.5%
      Beauty Salon $42.47$45.566.8%
      Toothpaste $3.69$3.700.4%
      Shampoo $1.32$1.282.8%
      Movie $12.00$12.131.1%
      Bowling $19.07$18.005.9%

      Groceries

      Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.63$5.843.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.61$1.572.6%
      Milk $4.76$4.671.8%
      Potatoes $5.24$4.936.2%
      Pizza $11.49$12.094.9%
      Beer $10.68$10.412.6%

      Health Care

      Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $65.99$125.6847.5%
      Doctor $117.73$135.7813.3%
      Dentist $89.30$113.2921.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.68$10.650.3%
      Lipitor $475.58$468.601.5%

      Housing

      Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
      Home Price $96,800.00$184,700.0047.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,862.49$2,346.6920.6%
      Apartment Rent $707.00$949.0025.5%

      Transportation

      Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.42$3.461.2%
      Tire Balancing $41.79$59.9230.3%

      Utilities

      Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $182.76$193.995.8%
      Phone $186.03$192.253.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Kimbolton, OH26955.3%
      Salesville, OH86955.2%
      Sarahsville, OH967821.9%
      Senecaville, OH3408019.7%
      Pleasant City, OH5228019.6%
      Cambridge, OH10,3988416.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Vashon, WA10,40015554.7%
      Quartz Hill, CA10,40513030.5%
      Fort Madison, IA10,4078614.4%
      Cavan Monaghan, ON10,407n/a 
      Palatka, FL10,3888118.6%
      Cambridge, OH10,3988416.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.