Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Salem?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Salem?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 45% higher in Salem, OR. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,075

+59% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$732

$989

+35% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,337

+48% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,778

+64% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$382,400

+306% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$71,900

+83% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$55,310

+10% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

35.7 yr

+0.6 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

55.7%

+14.5 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

31.4%

+10.1 pp in Salem, OR

Avg Commute

22.9 min

22.4 min

+0.5 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

540.6

+66% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

2,878.6

+36% 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

53.0°F

+0.3°F in Salem, OR

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

39.7 in

+3.3 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$5.09/gal

+22% in Salem, OR

Area: Ohio vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

16.3

+17% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$20.59

+10% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / OR)

5.75%

None

+5.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

9.90%

+7.2 pp in OR

Cleveland vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Salem?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Salem?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).