A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $940 in Topeka, KS. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.
Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 30% higher in Topeka, KS. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Cleveland vs Topeka — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Topeka?
- They're close. Cleveland, OH runs about $940 a month and Topeka, KS about $940 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Topeka?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $30,000 in Topeka.
- Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Topeka?
- Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).