A+
19%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
57%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 East Cleveland Ohio National
Cost of living8190100
Goods & Services9996100
Groceries10099100
Health care10894100
Housing4374100
Transportation9496100
Utilities9098100
Does this Area Fit Your Budget? Local Insights Report
  • Know the community before you call it home
  • Compare multiple areas side by side
  • Access over 300 data points for any address
Local Insights Report

An Overview of Cost of Living in East Cleveland, OH

The cost of living in East 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 East Cleveland is 81, which is 19% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that East Cleveland stands out by reporting housing costs that are 57.5% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.

Is East Cleveland Affordable?

Is East Cleveland affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take East Cleveland, for instance, where the median home price falls 68.3% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 32.3% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with East Cleveland flaunting a median household income of $33,398, 58.9% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in East Cleveland?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In East Cleveland, the utilities index registers 9.9% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In East Cleveland, the transportation index is 6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The East Cleveland cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in East Cleveland is 9% lower than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in East Cleveland is 19% lower than the national average
  • East Cleveland housing is 57% 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 East Cleveland

See all the best places to live around East Cleveland

Compare East Cleveland, OH Cost of Living

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report
      How would you rate the cost of living in East Cleveland?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in East Cleveland?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all East Cleveland poll results

      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$57,389$4,782$1,339$1,722
      Renters$26,032$2,169$607$781
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in East Cleveland, 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 East Cleveland have a median income of $57,389. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,339 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $26,032, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $607.

      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 East Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.48$27.6215.0%
      Beauty Salon $43.10$51.1115.7%
      Toothpaste $4.13$4.090.9%
      Shampoo $1.67$1.548.3%
      Movie $12.74$12.881.1%
      Yoga $19.00$19.663.4%

      Groceries

      Item East Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.64$7.700.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.53$1.668.0%
      Milk $4.67$4.731.3%
      Potatoes $5.31$5.261.0%
      Pizza $11.89$12.766.8%
      Beer $10.43$10.551.1%

      Health Care

      Item East Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $108.68$140.0622.4%
      Doctor $130.33$153.8215.3%
      Dentist $127.00$123.153.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.91$11.731.5%
      Lipitor $34.76$23.6147.2%

      Housing

      Item East Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Home Price $103,674.00$326,622.0068.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,868.97$2,480.2524.6%
      Apartment Rent $978.00$1,444.0032.3%

      Transportation

      Item East Cleveland National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.10$3.061.3%
      Tire Balancing $49.95$65.2123.4%

      Utilities

      Item East Cleveland National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $188.39$220.1214.4%
      Phone $191.69$195.712.1%
      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.
      Linndale, OH3468316.6%
      Kinsman Center, OH6748316.6%
      Highland Hills, OH7828416.5%
      Cleveland, OH391,3408416.4%
      Bainbridge village, OH7568416.3%
      East Cleveland, OH17,5638118.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Wayne, MI17,5669010.0%
      Islip, NY17,55914444.4%
      Poplar Bluff, MO17,5708217.7%
      Springfield, TN17,576946.1%
      Massapequa Park, NY17,53716160.9%
      East Cleveland, OH17,5638118.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.