Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Rochester?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Rochester?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 55% higher in Rochester, MN. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,080

+59% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$732

$1,106

+51% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,243

+38% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,646

+52% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$287,500

+206% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$87,767

+124% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$60,620

+21% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

36.4 yr

+0.1 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

41.2%

65.4%

+24.2 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

50.1%

+28.8 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

22.9 min

17.2 min

+5.7 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

158.9

+90% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

1,379

+70% 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

45.4°F

+7.3°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

33.0 in

+3.3 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.95/gal

+6% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

16.9

+13% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$14.95

+35% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / MN)

5.75%

6.875%

+1.1 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

9.85%

+7.1 pp in MN

Cleveland vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Rochester?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Rochester?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).