City comparison
Cincinnati, OH vs Cleveland, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 1.5% higher than in Cleveland, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Cleveland, OH would need about $101,500 in Cincinnati, OH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,051 a month in Cincinnati, OH and $1,058 in Cleveland, 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 Cincinnati, OH to Cleveland, OH ($110,865 → $111,138), while prices change by −1.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.8% in real buying power.
- Cincinnati, OH: price level 95.4 (cheaper)
- Cleveland, OH: price level 93.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cincinnati, OH | Cleveland, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.4 | 93.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,483 in Cleveland | $101,541 in Cincinnati |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,051/mo | $1,058/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 | 16% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,170 | $50,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA |
Rent areas: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Cleveland, OH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN and Cleveland, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cincinnati | Cleveland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 87.6 | 79.4 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 91.0 | 96.0 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 95.4 | 93.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cincinnati, OH → Cleveland, OH
Roughly even
Buying power +1.5%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
74 Strong offer
Cleveland, OH → Cincinnati, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −1.5%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Cincinnati, OH is in the Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN pay area; Cleveland, OH is in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Cincinnati, OH to Cleveland, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cincinnati, OH | Cleveland, OH | Real change, Cincinnati → Cleveland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,290 | $64,448 | +1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,785 | $77,977 | +1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,231 | $93,461 | +1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,865 | $111,138 | +1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,009 | $131,331 | +1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cincinnati, OH | Cleveland, OH | Cleveland pay in Cincinnati dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,740 | $76,470 | $77,648 (+19.9%) |
| Software Developers | $121,420 | $111,310 | $113,025 (−6.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,640 | $80,000 | $81,232 (+0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,650 | $83,940 | $85,233 (+1.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.