A+
17%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
45%
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 Niles Ohio National
Cost of living8390100
Goods & Services9496100
Groceries9899100
Health care8594100
Housing5574100
Transportation10096100
Utilities9198100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Niles, OH

The cost of living in Niles 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 Niles is 83, which is 17% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in Niles are 44.8% below the national average. This highlights the region's exceptional affordability for both homeownership and rentals in comparison to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more reasonable fraction of their income to housing, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and improved overall financial well-being.

Is Niles Affordable?

Wondering if Niles 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 Niles, for example, the median home price is 52.4% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 27.1% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Niles boasting a median household income of $66,918, which is 17.7% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Niles?

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including 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 farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Niles, the housing index comes in at 44.8% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Niles, the utilities index registers at 8.9% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Niles 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Niles is 8% lower than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Niles is 17% lower than the national average
  • Niles housing is 45% 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 Niles

See all the best places to live around Niles

Compare Niles, OH 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$81,699$6,808$1,906$2,451
      Renters$53,609$4,467$1,251$1,608
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Niles, OH, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Niles, homeowners have a median income of $81,699. Using that number, a maximum of $1,906 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $53,609, which means there is a maximum of $1,251 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Niles National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.67$27.6225.2%
      Beauty Salon $41.22$51.1119.3%
      Toothpaste $4.26$4.094.1%
      Shampoo $1.58$1.542.5%
      Movie $12.60$12.882.2%
      Yoga $20.33$19.663.4%

      Groceries

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.43$7.703.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.48$1.6611.0%
      Milk $4.67$4.731.3%
      Potatoes $5.34$5.261.6%
      Pizza $12.18$12.764.6%
      Beer $10.21$10.553.2%

      Health Care

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $80.27$140.0642.7%
      Doctor $138.99$153.829.6%
      Dentist $84.10$123.1531.7%
      Ibuprofen $11.57$11.731.4%
      Lipitor $24.52$23.613.9%

      Housing

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      Home Price $155,558.00$326,622.0052.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,314.85$2,480.256.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,052.00$1,444.0027.1%

      Transportation

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.15$3.063.2%
      Tire Balancing $60.08$65.217.9%

      Utilities

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $192.34$220.1212.6%
      Phone $190.94$195.712.4%
      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.
      West Hill, OH2,0727723.0%
      Wheatland, PA5657822.2%
      Youngstown, OH65,7397822.2%
      Farrell, PA4,8117921.4%
      Maplewood Park, OH2957921.2%
      Niles, OH19,0418317.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Thomasville, GA19,040955.1%
      Springboro, OH19,03711110.9%
      Holtsville, NY19,03514140.6%
      Lake Ronkonkoma, NY19,05714040.0%
      Central Point, OR19,05711716.6%
      Niles, OH19,0418317.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.