Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

vs
Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 50% higher in Reno, NV. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$678
$964
+42% in Reno, NV
1 Bedroom
$732
$1,206
+65% in Reno, NV
2 Bedroom
$903
$1,518
+68% in Reno, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,885
+74% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$498,600
+430% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$78,448
+100% in Reno, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$49,660
+1% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
37.3 yr
+1.0 yr in Reno, NV
Homeownership
41.2%
49.4%
+8.2 pp in Reno, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
35.7%
+14.4 pp in Reno, NV
Avg Commute
22.9 min
20.6 min
+2.3 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
528.9
+67% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
2,489.3
+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
53.8°F
+1.1°F in Reno, NV
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
7.4 in
+29.0 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$5.09/gal
+22% in Reno, NV

Area: Ohio vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
13.6
+30% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$12.09
+47% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Reno, NV
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Reno, NV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Reno, NV
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Cleveland, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / NV)
5.75%
6.85%
+1.1 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
None
+2.8 pp in OH

Cleveland vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Reno?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Reno?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Reno?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).