Cost of Living in Ohio
Based on 3 cities we track in Ohio.
Cost of living in Ohio is shaped mostly by rent across the 3 cities we track there. A one-bedroom apartment runs around $817 a month — 22% lower than the $1,052 median across the 51 states we track.
Median household income across those cities is $51,707, 23% lower than the $67,043 median across the states we track. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.
State Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$817
Median Home Value
$215,300
Median Income
$51,707
Avg Temperature
52.7°F
Medians across the Ohio cities we track — not a statewide population-weighted figure.
State Taxes
State Sales Tax
5.75%
State Income Tax (top rate)
Up to 2.75%
Cities in Ohio
Compare Ohio with
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Ohio cost of living — FAQ
- Is Ohio expensive to live in?
- Ohio is among the more affordable of the 51 states we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $817 ranks #45 of 51 and is 22% lower than the $1,052 median.
- What is the average rent in Ohio?
- Across the 3 cities we track in Ohio, average rent runs a studio around $791, a one-bedroom around $817, a two-bedroom around $1,023, a three-bedroom around $1,228 per month (US Census ACS).
- What is the median home price in Ohio?
- The median home value across the cities we track in Ohio is $215,300 — 25% lower than the $287,500 median across the states we track.
- Does Ohio have a state income tax?
- Yes — Ohio's top state income tax rate is 2.75% (most filers pay less than the top rate). Its state sales tax rate is 5.75%; local jurisdictions may add more.
- How much do you need to earn to live in Ohio?
- To keep a one-bedroom rent of $817 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year. Median household income across the cities we track in Ohio is $51,707.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).