Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Salt Lake City?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Salt Lake City?

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 Salt Lake City.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Salt Lake City?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Salt Lake City Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 48% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio

$678

$997

+47% in Salt Lake City, UT

1 Bedroom

$732

$1,166

+59% in Salt Lake City, UT

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,461

+62% in Salt Lake City, UT

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,993

+84% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$495,700

+427% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$74,925

+91% in Salt Lake City, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$55,240

+10% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

33.0 yr

+3.3 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

46.8%

+5.6 pp in Salt Lake City, UT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

50.9%

+29.6 pp in Salt Lake City, UT

Avg Commute

22.9 min

19.6 min

+3.3 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

878.8

+44% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

5,257.3

+16% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

52.8°F

+0.1°F in Salt Lake City, UT

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

16.1 in

+20.3 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$4.29/gal

+3% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: Ohio vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

13.0

+34% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$10.26

+55% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Salt Lake City, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Salt Lake City, UT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Salt Lake City, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / UT)

5.75%

6.1%

+0.3 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

4.50%

+1.8 pp in UT

Cleveland vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Salt Lake City?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Salt Lake City?: 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 Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Salt Lake City?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).