Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Cleveland?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Cleveland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $29,000 in Cleveland.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Cleveland?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Cleveland Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $940 in Cleveland, OH. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $39,187 in Cleveland, OH — about 47% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Cleveland, OH

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$678

+38% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$732

+38% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$903

+36% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,081

+41% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$94,100

+66% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$39,187

+47% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$50,140

+3% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

36.3 yr

+2.7 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

54.8%

41.2%

+13.6 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

21.3%

+11.8 pp in Arlington, TX

Avg Commute

26.7 min

22.9 min

+3.8 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

1,582

+220% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

2,434.5

4,531.3

+86% in Cleveland, OH

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

52.7°F

+12.7°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

36.4 in

+3.3 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.18/gal

+16% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Texas vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

19.5

+19% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$22.83

+25% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Cleveland, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Arlington, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / OH)

6.25%

5.75%

+0.5 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.75%

+2.8 pp in OH

Arlington vs Cleveland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Cleveland?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Cleveland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $29,000 in Cleveland.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Cleveland?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).