Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

vs
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 44% higher in Lincoln, NE. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$678
$851
+26% in Lincoln, NE
1 Bedroom
$732
$879
+20% in Lincoln, NE
2 Bedroom
$903
$1,070
+18% in Lincoln, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,379
+28% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$248,200
+164% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$69,991
+79% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$49,800
+1% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
33.4 yr
+2.9 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
55.8%
+14.6 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
41.0%
+19.7 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
22.9 min
18.3 min
+4.6 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
363.1
+77% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
2,484.4
+45% 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
51.5°F
+1.2°F in Cleveland, OH
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
30.9 in
+5.5 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
13.6
+30% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$15.53
+32% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / NE)
5.75%
5.5%
+0.3 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
4.55%
+1.8 pp in NE

Cleveland vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Lincoln?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Lincoln?
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 Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Lincoln?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).