Cost of Living in Cleveland, OH

An Overview of Cost of Living in Cleveland, OH

Understanding the cost of living in Cleveland can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Cleveland cost of living index is 83, which is 17% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

Cleveland housing costs are 48.9% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Cleveland residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Cleveland?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 22 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Cleveland. The results indicated that 32% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 68% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Cleveland Affordable?

Is Cleveland affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Cleveland, the median home price is 60.3% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 22.6% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Cleveland boasting a median household income of $31,838, 42.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Cleveland?

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Cleveland, healthcare costs are 4.8% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Cleveland, the groceries index is 1.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Cleveland 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.