Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Rochester?

Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $34,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Rochester?

Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Cincinnati vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 10% higher in Cincinnati, OH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$791

$750

+5% in Cincinnati, OH

1 Bedroom

$817

$857

+5% in Rochester, NY

2 Bedroom

$1,023

$1,114

+9% in Rochester, NY

3 Bedroom

$1,228

$1,240

+1% in Rochester, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$215,300

$120,600

+44% in Cincinnati, OH

Income

Median Household Income

$51,707

$46,628

+10% in Cincinnati, OH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,170

$51,210

+2% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

33.5 yr

+0.5 yr in Rochester, NY

Homeownership

38.9%

37.2%

+1.7 pp in Cincinnati, OH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.3%

29.9%

+11.4 pp in Cincinnati, OH

Avg Commute

23.1 min

18.9 min

+4.2 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

856.5

690

+19% in Cincinnati, OH

Property Crime

3,877.7

3,533.4

+9% 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

48.2°F

+6.1°F in Cincinnati, OH

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

34.3 in

+7.7 in in Cincinnati, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$4.04/gal

+3% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: Ohio vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

29.9

+53% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$22.74

+0% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Rochester, NY

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cincinnati, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Rochester, NY

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / NY)

5.75%

+1.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

10.90%

+8.2 pp in NY

Cincinnati vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Rochester?: Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Rochester?: Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).