Cost of Living in Toledo, OH

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An Overview of Cost of Living in Toledo, OH

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Toledo is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Toledo is 87, which is 13% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, 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 Toledo stands out by reporting housing costs that are 45% 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.

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

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 41 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Toledo. The results indicated that 46% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 54% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Toledo Affordable?

Is Toledo 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 Toledo, the median home price is 54.7% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 22.3% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Toledo come in at $39,155, which is 29.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Toledo?

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Toledo, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 5.75%, and income tax rates kick off at 0%.

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 Toledo, the utilities index registers 5.8% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Toledo, the groceries index is 1.5% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Toledo, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Toledo

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Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Toledo, OH, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Toledo, the median monthly income is $54,671 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,276 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $26,546, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $619 on monthly rental expenses.

Ohio Sales Tax

Ohio Income Tax

Goods & Services

Groceries

Health Care

Housing

Transportation

Utilities

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.

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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.