Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or West Valley City?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in West Valley City?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $48,000 in West Valley City.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or West Valley City?

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

Cleveland vs West Valley City Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 56% higher in West Valley 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

West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,085

+60% in West Valley City, UT

1 Bedroom

$732

$1,191

+63% in West Valley City, UT

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,333

+48% in West Valley City, UT

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,723

+59% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$377,300

+301% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$88,604

+126% in West Valley City, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$55,240

+10% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

30.3 yr

+6.0 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

71.1%

+29.9 pp in West Valley City, UT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

15.7%

+5.6 pp in Cleveland, OH

Avg Commute

22.9 min

22.2 min

+0.7 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

471.8

+70% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

1,855.5

+59% 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

52.8°F

+0.1°F in West Valley City, UT

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

16.1 in

+20.3 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.80/gal

$4.27/gal

+12% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Ohio vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.2

13.4

+30% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$11.84

+48% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in West Valley City, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in West Valley City, UT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in West Valley City, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in West Valley 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 West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or West Valley City?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in West Valley City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or West Valley City?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); West Valley 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).