Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 15% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$791
$1,126
+42% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$817
$1,189
+46% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$1,394
+36% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,406
+14% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$232,400
+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$60,698
+17% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$54,310
+8% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.1 yr
+2.1 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
38.9%
52.3%
+13.4 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
34.6%
+6.7 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
32.0 min
+8.9 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
917.1
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
3,877.7
4,615.3
+19% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+2.8°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
48.5 in
+6.6 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.86/gal
+8% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs SEPTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
21.6
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$19.17
+16% in Cincinnati, OH

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 Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / PA)
5.75%
6%
+0.3 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
3.07%
+0.3 pp in PA

Cincinnati vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Philadelphia?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Philadelphia?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).