A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
38%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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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 Urbana Ohio National
Cost of living8992100
Goods & Services100100100
Groceries101101100
Health care10798100
Housing6273100
Transportation95100100
Utilities10299100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Urbana, OH

Knowing the cost of living in Urbana 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 Urbana stands at 89, marking it 11% lower than the national average.

Is Urbana Affordable?

Is Urbana an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Urbana is 42.7% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 27% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Urbana has a median household income of $49,043, which is 11.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Urbana?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Urbana, the utilities index is 1.8% higher than the national average.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Urbana, the housing index stands at 38% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Urbana, the transportation index stands at 5.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Urbana 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Urbana is 4% lower than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Urbana is 11% lower than the national average
  • Urbana housing is 38% 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 Urbana

See all the best places to live around Urbana

Compare Urbana, OH Cost of Living

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      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$59,293$4,941$1,383$1,779
      Renters$35,759$2,980$834$1,073
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Urbana, OH, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Urbana, homeowners have a median income of $59,293. Using that number, a maximum of $1,383 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $35,759, which means there is a maximum of $834 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Urbana National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.00$24.2613.4%
      Beauty Salon $43.31$45.564.9%
      Toothpaste $3.57$3.703.5%
      Shampoo $1.30$1.281.5%
      Movie $12.84$12.135.8%
      Bowling $16.32$18.009.3%

      Groceries

      Item Urbana National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.04$5.843.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.69$1.577.2%
      Milk $4.78$4.672.2%
      Potatoes $5.19$4.935.1%
      Pizza $13.11$12.098.5%
      Beer $10.57$10.411.6%

      Health Care

      Item Urbana National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $108.50$125.6813.7%
      Doctor $152.25$135.7812.1%
      Dentist $122.07$113.297.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.62$10.650.3%
      Lipitor $511.48$468.609.2%

      Housing

      Item Urbana National avg. Difference
      Home Price $105,900.00$184,700.0042.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,810.14$2,346.6922.9%
      Apartment Rent $693.00$949.0027.0%

      Transportation

      Item Urbana National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.24$3.466.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.06$59.923.1%

      Utilities

      Item Urbana National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $202.76$193.994.5%
      Phone $186.57$192.253.0%
      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.
      Quincy, OH535909.9%
      Springfield, OH58,9578613.8%
      Christiansburg, OH4818613.7%
      New Carlisle, OH5,5778712.6%
      Tremont City, OH3078812.4%
      Urbana, OH11,4288911.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Selkirk, MB11,428n/a 
      Roma, TX11,4277623.9%
      Signal Hill, CA11,43015656.2%
      Pontiac, IL11,4309010.1%
      Gardnerville Ranchos, NV11,43212120.6%
      Urbana, OH11,4288911.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.