Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 53% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$678
$998
+47% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$732
$1,305
+78% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$903
$1,504
+67% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,881
+74% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$420,700
+347% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$83,198
+112% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$52,710
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
35.6 yr
+0.7 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
61.3%
+20.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
41.9%
+20.6 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.9 min
22.8 min
+0.1 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
722.1
+54% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
3,488.7
+23% 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
52.7°F
49.0°F
+3.7°F in Cleveland, OH
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
16.5 in
+19.8 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$4.25/gal
+2% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Ohio vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
16.2
+17% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$11.92
+48% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Cleveland, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / CO)
5.75%
2.9%
+2.9 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
4.40%
+1.7 pp in CO

Cleveland vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Colorado Springs?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Colorado Springs?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).