A+
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
62%
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 Youngstown Ohio National
Cost of living8292100
Goods & Services93100100
Groceries100101100
Health care9198100
Housing3873100
Transportation107100100
Utilities12599100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Youngstown, OH

The cost of living in Youngstown 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 Youngstown is 82, which is 18% 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 can absorb a substantial portion of your net income, sometimes exceeding 30%. Thankfully, Youngstown stands out by reporting housing costs that are 62.1% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more budget-friendly compared to the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, residents of Youngstown can allocate a more reasonable portion of their income to housing, allowing for greater financial flexibility.

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

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 17 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Youngstown. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 47% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 53% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Youngstown Affordable?

Is Youngstown 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 Youngstown, the median home price is 74.6% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 32.8% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Youngstown boasting a median household income of $30,129, 45.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Youngstown?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Youngstown, healthcare costs are 8.6% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Youngstown, the transportation index is 7.4% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Youngstown, the utilities index is 25.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Youngstown 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Youngstown is 11% lower than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Youngstown is 18% lower than the national average
  • Youngstown housing is 62% 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 Youngstown

See all the best places to live around Youngstown

Compare Youngstown, OH Cost of Living

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      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$40,552$3,379$946$1,217
      Renters$19,962$1,664$466$599
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Youngstown is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Youngstown has a median income of about $40,552 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $946 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $19,962. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $466 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Youngstown National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.73$24.262.2%
      Beauty Salon $40.40$45.5611.3%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.6%
      Shampoo $1.39$1.288.5%
      Movie $11.77$12.133.0%
      Bowling $16.24$18.009.8%

      Groceries

      Item Youngstown National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.6%
      Milk $4.52$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $5.47$4.9310.8%
      Pizza $12.83$12.096.2%
      Beer $10.58$10.411.6%

      Health Care

      Item Youngstown National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $109.26$125.6813.1%
      Doctor $100.92$135.7825.7%
      Dentist $110.50$113.292.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.45$10.651.9%
      Lipitor $502.54$468.607.2%

      Housing

      Item Youngstown National avg. Difference
      Home Price $46,900.00$184,700.0074.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,225.61$2,346.695.2%
      Apartment Rent $638.00$949.0032.8%

      Transportation

      Item Youngstown National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.73$3.467.6%
      Tire Balancing $64.05$59.926.9%

      Utilities

      Item Youngstown National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $270.68$193.9939.5%
      Phone $196.77$192.252.4%
      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, OH2,0318118.6%
      Wheatland, PA5548218.0%
      Farrell, PA4,6348317.1%
      Maplewood Park, OH2838317.0%
      Lowellville, OH1,1138316.7%
      Youngstown, OH64,1528218.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      South Hill, WA64,10413434.1%
      Lake Elsinore, CA64,20113333.3%
      Cheyenne, WY64,0991043.5%
      San Marcos, TX64,053981.9%
      Bellevue, NE63,970964.0%
      Youngstown, OH64,1528218.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.