City comparison
Canton, OH vs Columbus, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Columbus, OH are 6.8% higher than in Canton, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Canton, OH would need about $106,800 in Columbus, OH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,194 a month in Columbus, OH versus $846 in Canton, OH. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Columbus, OH and 13% in Canton, 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 −0.1% moving from Canton, OH to Columbus, OH ($111,138 → $111,065), while prices change by +6.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.4% in real buying power.
- Canton, OH: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
- Columbus, OH: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Canton, OH | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,781 in Columbus | $93,649 in Canton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $846/mo | $1,194/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 | 13% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,810 | $51,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH |
Rent areas: Canton-Massillon, OH MSA and Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Canton-Massillon, OH and Columbus, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Canton | Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 58.1 | 87.9 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 96.9 | 95.5 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Canton, OH → Columbus, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
49 Fair offer
Columbus, OH → Canton, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.8%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
90 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Canton, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Columbus, OH is in Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH. The last column shows what a transfer from Canton, OH to Columbus, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Canton, OH | Columbus, OH | Real change, Canton → Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $64,406 | −6.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $77,926 | −6.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $93,400 | −6.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $111,065 | −6.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $131,245 | −6.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Canton, OH | Columbus, OH | Columbus pay in Canton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,940 | $78,150 | $73,187 (−6.1%) |
| Software Developers | $105,500 | $122,340 | $114,570 (+8.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $72,170 | $81,700 | $76,511 (+6.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,610 | $83,900 | $78,572 (−1.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.