Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 27% higher in New Haven, CT. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$678
$1,159
+71% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$732
$1,275
+74% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$903
$1,473
+63% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,636
+51% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$249,000
+165% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$53,771
+37% in New Haven, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$60,060
+20% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
31.9 yr
+4.4 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
28.4%
+12.8 pp in Cleveland, OH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
37.7%
+16.4 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
22.9 min
21.0 min
+1.9 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
536.3
+66% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
3,601.6
+21% 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
52.2°F
+0.5°F in Cleveland, OH
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
47.1 in
+10.8 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.94/gal
+4% in New Haven, CT

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
24.3
+27% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$23.33
+2% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / CT)
5.75%
6.35%
+0.6 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
6.99%
+4.2 pp in CT

Cleveland vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or New Haven?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or New Haven?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).