Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Green Bay?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Cleveland, OH's $940, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Green Bay?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Green Bay Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $920 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cleveland, OH, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 37% higher in Green Bay, WI. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio

$678

$707

+4% in Green Bay, WI

1 Bedroom

$732

$730

+0% in Cleveland, OH

2 Bedroom

$903

$956

+6% in Green Bay, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,287

+19% in Green Bay, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$191,500

+104% in Green Bay, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$62,546

+60% in Green Bay, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$49,940

+0% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

35.7 yr

+0.6 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

55.9%

+14.7 pp in Green Bay, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

25.5%

+4.2 pp in Green Bay, WI

Avg Commute

22.9 min

18.9 min

+4.0 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

501.7

+68% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

1,331.2

+71% 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

44.3°F

+8.4°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

29.5 in

+6.8 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.94/gal

+6% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

19.7

+1% in Green Bay, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$11.79

+48% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / WI)

5.75%

+0.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

7.65%

+4.9 pp in WI

Cleveland vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Green Bay?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Cleveland, OH's $940, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Green Bay?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Green Bay?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).