Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 4% higher in New Haven, CT. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$791
$1,159
+47% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$817
$1,275
+56% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$1,473
+44% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,636
+33% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$249,000
+16% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$53,771
+4% in New Haven, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$60,060
+20% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
31.9 yr
+1.1 yr in Cincinnati, OH
Homeownership
38.9%
28.4%
+10.5 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
37.7%
+3.6 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
21.0 min
+2.1 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
536.3
+37% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
3,877.7
3,601.6
+7% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.3°F
52.2°F
+2.1°F in Cincinnati, OH
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
47.1 in
+5.2 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.94/gal
+4% in New Haven, CT

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
24.3
+27% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$23.33
+2% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / CT)
5.75%
6.35%
+0.6 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
6.99%
+4.2 pp in CT

Cincinnati vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or New Haven?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or New Haven?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).