Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 45% higher in Newark, DE. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$678
$1,649
+143% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$732
$1,391
+90% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$903
$1,513
+68% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,916
+77% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$357,600
+280% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$71,373
+82% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$54,310
+8% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
22.0 yr
+14.3 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
50.3%
+9.1 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
57.5%
+36.2 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
22.9 min
19.6 min
+3.3 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
326.3
+79% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
2,024.6
+55% 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
54.9°F
+2.2°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
43.1 in
+6.7 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.94/gal
+4% in Newark, DE

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
19.3
+1% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$29.73
+30% in Newark, DE

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 Newark, DE
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / DE)
5.75%
None
+5.8 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
6.60%
+3.8 pp in DE

Cleveland vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Newark?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Newark?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).