City comparison
Akron, OH vs Cincinnati, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 2.1% higher than in Akron, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Akron, OH would need about $102,100 in Cincinnati, OH to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,051 a month in Cincinnati, OH versus $985 in Akron, OH. On $100,000, that's 16% of take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH and 15% in Akron, OH.
- Both are in OH, so estimated state income tax is the same: $1,968 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.2% moving from Akron, OH to Cincinnati, OH ($111,138 → $110,865), while prices change by +2.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.3% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Cincinnati, OH: price level 95.4 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Cincinnati, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 95.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,142 in Cincinnati | $97,903 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $1,051/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $50,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 87.6 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 91.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 95.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Cincinnati, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.1%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
62 Fair offer
Cincinnati, OH → Akron, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
75 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Cincinnati, OH is in Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Cincinnati, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Cincinnati, OH | Real change, Akron → Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $64,290 | −2.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $77,785 | −2.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $93,231 | −2.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $110,865 | −2.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $131,009 | −2.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $64,740 | $63,382 (−19.3%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $121,420 | $118,874 (+12.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $80,640 | $78,949 (+0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $83,650 | $81,896 (+1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.