Cost of Living in Ohio Cities: These Are the Top 5

Updated On October 6, 2023
Ohio Statehouse Columbus

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States.

This state is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million is the seventh-most populous state in America.

The Buckeye State (as a nickname for Ohio) is known for the buckeye trees growing across the different parts of the state.

Also, Ohio is famous for American Football and the famous Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum.

Besides, living in this state is secure, engaging and there is always everything to do.

But, we are deeply interested in its cost of living.

Is living in Ohio expensive?

How much does it cost to live in this state?

And – the most important – which cities are the top five most expensive in Ohio?

So, keep reading this post because you will find answers to all these questions mentioned above.

The Cost of Living in This State

Living in Ohio is less expensive than is on average across the U.S.

When we compared it with all American states, it is sure that Ohio has the seventh-lowest cost of living.

Ohio is home to eleven metropolitan areas.

The most expensive is the Columbus metro area, where the cost of goods and services is 3.2% higher than the statewide average.

Housing Costs

Housing is one of the influential components of the cost of living.

In Ohio, the typical home is worth $155,000.

That is $65,000 less than the national average home value.

Usually, the ordinary person who pays for the rent in Ohio spends $800 per month or around $250 shorter than the regular monthly rent in the nation.

For instance, the monthly rent for a one-bedroom in the state is $600, while the typical rent for a unit with five or more bedrooms is not above $1,000.

As said that, we can note that these housing prices are not so unreasonable.

Transportation Costs

Generally speaking, gas prices are lower than the national average gas costs.

For example, the average cost of gas – regular fuel price is $2.00 a gallon.

Car insurance premiums can vary by state.

In Ohio, the standard automobile insurance is $1,600.

That is roughly $1,517 more than the national standard norm.

Healthcare Costs

Healthcare costs (assuming at least a basic level of health insurance coverage) are relatively low in Ohio.

Average health care costs for a single adult in the state total $3,750 per year, which is much less than the national average.

For a family of four, average annual health care costs total $12,500, or only $450 less than the comparable national average of $12,950.

The Top Five Expensive Cities in This State

Just as the cost of living differs from state to state, it changes from place to place in Ohio.

Here are the five most expensive places to live in Ohio.

Columbus

Columbus is the capital city of Ohio.

This city is famous for a lot of things.

Firstly, here is one of the largest universities.

Also, there are famous football schools in North America and one of the country’s top zoos.

It is also famous for visitors and its residents for the best park schemes in the whole state, containing 17 parks spread.

But what about the actual cost of living in Columbus?

Well, the average home price in Columbus is $266,496, and the average rent per month is enormous – $834.

That makes housing prices 23% lower than the national average.

If we have in mind that a loaf of fresh bread is around $3.50, a gallon of milk – $2.92, and a carton of eggs (regular 12) is more than $2.20, we can see that utility prices are around 21.5% lower than the national average.

These prices, compared to other cities in Ohio, are the highest.

That is why Columbus is one of the most expensive cities in this state.

Cleveland

Cleveland, officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County.

This city is famous for its beautiful parklands, cultural history, and musical scene.

It has some sports teams such as the Browns and Cavaliers.

What is more – Cleveland is often called the birthplace of rock and roll.

Also, this city is famous for its high cost of living.

Housing prices can be surprisingly high.

The average home price is more than in Columbus and is $310,500.

As for renting, the average rent per month is also higher than in the capital city – $960 per month.

Continuous food prices are also overpriced.

For example, one liter of milk is $3.54, pizza is $8.50, and one beer in a pub will cost you around $10.

Healthcare in Cleveland is 1% higher than the national average.

For a one doctor’s visit in Cleveland, you should expect to pay $122, and for a dentist visit – above $105.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati is highly famous for its craftwork culture and sports teams.

The city hosts theatre, orchestra, and ballet shows.

Cincinnati is also home to the first baseball team in America: the Cincinnati Reds.

Rent and housing costs are slightly higher in Cincinnati, making it a more expensive place to live than in many other parts of Ohio.

The average home price is $400,000.

Moreover, healthcare in Cincinnati is 14% higher than the national average.

As a result, for only one doctor’s visit, you should expect to pay more than $125.

Toledo

Summary about cost of living in Toledo, we could note that for a single person, estimated monthly expenses are 890$ without rent.

Comparatively, that means Toledo is also one of the most expensive cities for living in Ohio.

As for other costs such as healthcare, transportations, etc., – all of them are the same as in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.

Akron

The last one, but also one of the most expensive cities in Ohio, is – Akron.

Akron is an expensive place to live and operate a business.

Compared to the United States and other cities within the United States, the cost of living in this city is much higher.

Transportation charges you have to pay in this city are almost 10% above the national average.

Therefore the price for one way ticket for a local bus is around $3.35, and a monthly pass is above $65.

The housing costs are also enormous.

They are identically the same as in Cincinnati.

Ohio Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Ohio Safety Review

Safety Index:
80
Ohio
  • OVERALL RISK: LOW
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
  • MUGGING RISK: LOW
  • TERRORISM RISK: LOW
  • SCAMS RISK: LOW
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

1 Comment on Cost of Living in Ohio Cities: These Are the Top 5

  1. Ohio is a great state to live in, with a low cost of living and plenty of things to do.

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