| Index | Salem | Ohio | National |
| Cost of living | 84 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 58 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 93 | 93 | 100 |
The cost of living in Salem 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 Salem is 84, which is 16% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Salem housing costs are 42.1% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Salem residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.
Is Salem affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Salem, the median home price is 48.5% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 27.1% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Salem boasting a median household income of $58,996, 27.5% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, 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. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.
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 Salem, the utilities index registers at 5.5% lower than 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.
The Salem cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $89,603 | $7,467 | $2,091 | $2,688 |
| Renters | $35,966 | $2,997 | $839 | $1,079 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Ohio | 5.75% | 8% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Ohio | 2.76% | 3.99% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| East Rochester, OH | 87 | 95 | 4.7% |
| Damascus, OH | 296 | 96 | 4.3% |
| Youngstown, OH | 65,739 | 78 | 22.4% |
| Campbell, OH | 8,042 | 80 | 20.5% |
| Beloit, OH | 1,194 | 82 | 17.6% |
| Salem, OH | 12,141 | 84 | 15.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Webb City, MO | 12,139 | 87 | 12.8% |
| Bucyrus, OH | 12,135 | 83 | 16.5% |
| Emeryville, CA | 12,131 | 171 | 71.1% |
| Crossville, TN | 12,131 | 95 | 5.2% |
| Grafton, WI | 12,131 | 106 | 6.2% |
| Salem, OH | 12,141 | 84 | 15.6% |
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