A+
5%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
20%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Cincinnati Ohio National
Cost of living9592100
Goods & Services102100100
Groceries102101100
Health care10398100
Housing8073100
Transportation102100100
Utilities10099100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Cincinnati, OH

Knowing the cost of living in Cincinnati allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Cincinnati stands at 95, marking it 5% lower than the national average.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Cincinnati are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Cincinnati can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Cincinnati?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 28 residents in Cincinnati to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 71% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 29% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Cincinnati Affordable?

Is Cincinnati an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Cincinnati, the median home price is 19.5% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 19.9% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Cincinnati come in at $42,663, which is 22.9% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Cincinnati?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Cincinnati comes in at 0% equal to the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Cincinnati displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Cincinnati is 4% higher than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Cincinnati is 5% lower than the national average
  • Cincinnati housing is 20% lower than the national average
  • Ohio general sales tax is 13% higher than the national average
  • Ohio state income tax is 6% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Cincinnati

See all the best places to live around Cincinnati

Compare Cincinnati, OH Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$76,377$6,365$1,782$2,292
      Renters$29,930$2,494$698$898
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Cincinnati, OH, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Cincinnati have a median income of $76,377. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,782 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $29,930, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $698.

      Ohio Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Ohio 5.75% 8%

      Ohio Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Ohio 2.76% 3.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item Cincinnati National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.13$24.263.6%
      Beauty Salon $37.93$45.5616.7%
      Toothpaste $3.60$3.702.7%
      Shampoo $1.27$1.280.6%
      Movie $14.35$12.1318.3%
      Bowling $17.56$18.002.5%

      Groceries

      Item Cincinnati National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.91$5.841.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.72$1.579.1%
      Milk $4.80$4.672.7%
      Potatoes $5.05$4.932.3%
      Pizza $11.92$12.091.4%
      Beer $10.63$10.412.1%

      Health Care

      Item Cincinnati National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $105.42$125.6816.1%
      Doctor $159.40$135.7817.4%
      Dentist $106.67$113.295.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.68$10.650.3%
      Lipitor $497.02$468.606.1%

      Housing

      Item Cincinnati National avg. Difference
      Home Price $148,700.00$184,700.0019.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,993.26$2,346.6915.1%
      Apartment Rent $760.00$949.0019.9%

      Transportation

      Item Cincinnati National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.27$3.465.6%
      Tire Balancing $73.09$59.9222.0%

      Utilities

      Item Cincinnati National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $197.10$193.991.6%
      Phone $186.48$192.253.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Shawnee, OH1,0541021.7%
      Plainville, OH1531021.7%
      Hooven, OH3268119.1%
      Shawnee village, OH5418317.2%
      Dillonvale village, OH6458316.6%
      Cincinnati, OH302,687954.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Pittsburgh, PA301,286954.8%
      St. Louis, MO304,709909.8%
      St. Paul, MN305,8771022.0%
      Henderson, NV309,95511818.3%
      Greensboro, NC294,395937.4%
      Cincinnati, OH302,687954.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.