Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Spokane?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Spokane, WA's $1,070, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $36,000 in Spokane.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Spokane?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Spokane Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Spokane

Washington

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Spokane, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 40% higher in Spokane, WA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio

$678

$884

+30% in Spokane, WA

1 Bedroom

$732

$903

+23% in Spokane, WA

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,192

+32% in Spokane, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,442

+33% in Spokane, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$326,200

+247% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$65,745

+68% in Spokane, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$54,660

+9% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

37.2 yr

+0.9 yr in Spokane, WA

Homeownership

41.2%

58.3%

+17.1 pp in Spokane, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

32.6%

+11.3 pp in Spokane, WA

Avg Commute

22.9 min

21.2 min

+1.7 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

683.6

+57% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

4,931.8

+9% in Spokane, WA

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

48.9°F

+3.8°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

17.8 in

+18.6 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$5.12/gal

+23% in Spokane, WA

Area: Ohio vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

14.9

+23% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$20.41

+11% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Spokane, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Spokane, WA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Spokane, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Spokane, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / WA)

5.75%

6.5%

+0.8 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

None

+2.8 pp in OH

Cleveland vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Spokane?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Spokane, WA's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Spokane?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Spokane?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).