Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Paterson?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $47,000 in Paterson.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Paterson?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Paterson Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 27% higher in Paterson, NJ. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio

$678

$786

+16% in Paterson, NJ

1 Bedroom

$732

$1,183

+62% in Paterson, NJ

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,468

+63% in Paterson, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,729

+60% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$335,400

+256% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$53,766

+37% in Paterson, NJ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$61,430

+23% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

33.3 yr

+3.0 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

26.2%

+15.0 pp in Cleveland, OH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

12.5%

+8.8 pp in Cleveland, OH

Avg Commute

22.9 min

23.1 min

+0.2 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

1,010.1

+36% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

2,391.4

+47% 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

49.0 in

+12.7 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.80/gal

$3.94/gal

+4% in Paterson, NJ

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.2

24.9

+30% in Paterson, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$17.68

+23% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Paterson, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Paterson, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Paterson, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Paterson, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / NJ)

5.75%

6.625%

+0.9 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

10.75%

+8.0 pp in NJ

Cleveland vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Paterson?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Paterson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Paterson?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).