Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Columbus?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $35,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Columbus?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,080 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $56,622 in Columbus, GA — about 31% higher in Columbus, GA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio

$678

$826

+22% in Columbus, GA

1 Bedroom

$732

$875

+20% in Columbus, GA

2 Bedroom

$903

$991

+10% in Columbus, GA

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,221

+13% in Columbus, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$182,300

+94% in Columbus, GA

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$56,622

+44% in Columbus, GA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$43,540

+13% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

35.1 yr

+1.2 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

50.2%

+9.0 pp in Columbus, GA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

29.7%

+8.4 pp in Columbus, GA

Avg Commute

22.9 min

20.2 min

+2.7 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

612.3

+61% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

2,273.4

+50% 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

65.7°F

+13.0°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

46.8 in

+10.4 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.86/gal

+8% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

15.8

+19% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$33.28

+46% in Columbus, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cleveland, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Columbus, GA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / GA)

5.75%

+1.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

5.19%

+2.4 pp in GA

Cleveland vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Columbus?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Columbus?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% 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).