A+
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
9%
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 Cleveland Tennessee National
Cost of living9289100
Goods & Services9094100
Groceries9798100
Health care9288100
Housing9180100
Transportation8889100
Utilities9393100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Cleveland, TN

The cost of living in Cleveland affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Cleveland is 92, which is 8% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

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

Is Cleveland Affordable?

Wondering if Cleveland is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Cleveland, for example, the median home price is 5.2% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 17.2% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Cleveland boasting a median household income of $44,542, which is 19.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Cleveland?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Cleveland, the housing index is 8.8% lower than the national average.

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 Cleveland comes in at 7.5% lower than the national average.

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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland is 2% higher than the Tennessee average
  • The cost of living in Cleveland is 8% lower than the national average
  • Cleveland housing is 9% lower than the national average
  • Tennessee general sales tax is 37% higher than the national average
  • Tennessee state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Cleveland

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Compare Cleveland, TN Cost of Living

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      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$64,805$5,400$1,512$1,944
      Renters$31,265$2,605$729$938
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Cleveland, TN, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Cleveland homeowners, is $64,805. This would allow for a maximum of $1,512 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $31,265 which would result in a maximum of $729 to be spent on rental costs.

      Tennessee Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Tennessee 7% 9.75%

      Tennessee Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Tennessee 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Haircut $18.80$24.2622.5%
      Beauty Salon $48.40$45.566.2%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.27$1.280.8%
      Movie $12.57$12.133.6%
      Bowling $16.47$18.008.5%

      Groceries

      Item Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.63$5.843.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.43$1.578.9%
      Milk $4.49$4.673.9%
      Potatoes $5.17$4.934.8%
      Pizza $11.66$12.093.6%
      Beer $10.02$10.413.8%

      Health Care

      Item Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.00$125.6810.9%
      Doctor $129.61$135.784.5%
      Dentist $96.50$113.2914.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.39$10.652.4%
      Lipitor $465.03$468.600.8%

      Housing

      Item Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Home Price $175,100.00$184,700.005.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,008.10$2,346.6914.4%
      Apartment Rent $786.00$949.0017.2%

      Transportation

      Item Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.09$3.4610.6%
      Tire Balancing $50.87$59.9215.1%

      Utilities

      Item Cleveland National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $170.16$193.9912.3%
      Phone $192.18$192.250.0%
      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.
      East Cleveland, TN2,5578019.9%
      Benton, TN1,2568317.4%
      Charleston, TN6688415.8%
      Calhoun, TN6748515.3%
      Wildwood Lake, TN3,6148910.7%
      Cleveland, TN45,115928.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lake Ridge, VA45,11113434.3%
      Pearl City, HI45,15918988.6%
      Rockwall, TX45,16812221.8%
      Attleboro, MA45,02312222.4%
      Herriman, UT45,21113232.3%
      Cleveland, TN45,115928.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.