Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Worcester?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Worcester?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 42% higher in Worcester, MA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,087

+60% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$732

$1,028

+40% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,476

+63% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,675

+55% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$339,500

+261% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$67,544

+72% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$57,830

+15% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

34.1 yr

+2.2 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

42.4%

+1.2 pp in Worcester, MA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

34.1%

+12.8 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

22.9 min

25.1 min

+2.2 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

640.2

+60% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

1,580.3

+65% 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

47.9°F

+4.8°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

48.1 in

+11.7 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.80/gal

$4.07/gal

+7% in Worcester, MA

Area: Ohio vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.2

29.6

+54% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$30.66

+34% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / MA)

5.75%

6.25%

+0.5 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

9.00%

+6.3 pp in MA

Cleveland vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Worcester?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Worcester?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).