Is Cincinnati expensive to live in?

Cincinnati is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $817 per month ranks #100 of 112 and is 24% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Cincinnati?

Average rent in Cincinnati, OH runs a studio around $791, a one-bedroom around $817, a two-bedroom around $1,023, a three-bedroom around $1,228 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $817 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year. The median household income here is $51,707.

How much does it cost to live in Cincinnati per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Cincinnati is about $1,030 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Cincinnati, OH

Population 309,595 · Ohio

~$1,030/mo est.1BR $817Home $215,300

Photo: Matt Koffel / Unsplash

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The cost of living in Cincinnati, OH is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $817 a month — 24% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $791 and two-bedrooms $1,023.

Median household income here is $51,707, 26% lower than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,030 before food and transport. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $817

Studio

$791

1 Bedroom

$817

2 Bedroom

$1,023

3 Bedroom

$1,228

Buying a Home$215,300

Median Home Value

$215,300

Income$51,707

Median Household Income

$51,707

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,170

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.66

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities19.5¢/kWh

Electricity

19.5¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$22.83/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$4.18/gal

Regular Gasoline (Ohio)

$4.18/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (OH)5.75% sales

State Sales Tax

5.75%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 2.75%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime856.5 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

856.5

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,877.7

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Cincinnati Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 33.0 yrs

Median Age

33.0 yrs

Homeownership

38.9%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.3%

Avg Commute

23.1 min

Climate54.3°F

Avg Annual Temperature

54.3°F

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

Cincinnati cost of living — FAQ

Is Cincinnati expensive to live in?: Cincinnati is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $817 per month ranks #100 of 112 and is 24% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Cincinnati?: Average rent in Cincinnati, OH runs a studio around $791, a one-bedroom around $817, a two-bedroom around $1,023, a three-bedroom around $1,228 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $817 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year. The median household income here is $51,707.
How much does it cost to live in Cincinnati per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Cincinnati is about $1,030 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Cincinnati with nearby cities

Cincinnati vs Lexington Cincinnati vs Louisville Cincinnati vs Indianapolis Cincinnati vs Columbus Cincinnati vs Fort Wayne Cincinnati vs Charleston

Nearby cities

Lexington, KY 73 mi Louisville, KY 89 mi Indianapolis, IN 99 mi Columbus, OH 100 mi Fort Wayne, IN 141 mi Charleston, WV 164 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.