A+
19%
Overall NAT. AVG.
11%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
46%
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 Zanesville Ohio National
Cost of living8190100
Goods & Services9096100
Groceries10199100
Health care8194100
Housing5474100
Transportation9296100
Utilities10098100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Zanesville, OH

The cost of living in Zanesville 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 Zanesville 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.

Housing expenses can absorb a substantial portion of your net income, sometimes exceeding 30%. Thankfully, Zanesville stands out by reporting housing costs that are 45.9% 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 Zanesville can allocate a more reasonable portion of their income to housing, allowing for greater financial flexibility.

Everyday staples like clothes, toiletries and entertainment expenses play a big role in your total living costs. But in Zanesville, these goods are 10.5% cheaper than the national average. So, you can enjoy what you need and love without emptying your wallet. Plus, you'll have more cash to put towards your savings or any other money goals you have, which is a real boost for your financial well-being.

Is Zanesville Affordable?

Is Zanesville 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 Zanesville, for instance, where the median home price falls 54.9% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 24.9% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Zanesville flaunting a median household income of $49,395, 39.3% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Zanesville?

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Zanesville, the housing index is 45.9% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Zanesville, the utilities index stands at 0.2% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Zanesville 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 Zanesville is 9% lower than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Zanesville is 19% lower than the national average
  • Zanesville housing is 46% 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 Zanesville

See all the best places to live around Zanesville

Compare Zanesville, 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$74,807$6,234$1,745$2,244
      Renters$35,423$2,952$826$1,063
      The affordability of the housing market in Zanesville, OH as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Zanesville homeowners, the median income is $74,807. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,745 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $35,423. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $826 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Zanesville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.12$27.6212.7%
      Beauty Salon $48.69$51.114.7%
      Toothpaste $4.19$4.092.4%
      Shampoo $1.47$1.544.7%
      Movie $11.61$12.889.9%
      Yoga $20.79$19.665.7%

      Groceries

      Item Zanesville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.67$7.700.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.76$1.665.9%
      Milk $4.70$4.730.7%
      Potatoes $5.59$5.266.3%
      Pizza $11.99$12.766.1%
      Beer $10.46$10.550.8%

      Health Care

      Item Zanesville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $113.30$140.0619.1%
      Doctor $127.15$153.8217.3%
      Dentist $88.40$123.1528.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.65$11.730.7%
      Lipitor $19.56$23.6117.2%

      Housing

      Item Zanesville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $147,264.00$326,622.0054.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,352.65$2,480.255.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,085.00$1,444.0024.9%

      Transportation

      Item Zanesville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.11$3.061.6%
      Tire Balancing $45.22$65.2130.7%

      Utilities

      Item Zanesville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $222.90$220.121.3%
      Phone $191.44$195.712.2%
      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.
      East Fultonham, OH375937.0%
      Brownsville, OH247937.0%
      Trinway, OH1407426.4%
      Roseville, OH2,2587821.9%
      South Zanesville, OH2,1567821.7%
      Zanesville, OH26,1258118.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Austin, MN26,125909.8%
      Coral Terrace, FL26,12912828.0%
      Dedham, MA26,13715555.5%
      Reading, MA26,11116565.4%
      Haines City, FL26,146954.9%
      Zanesville, OH26,1258118.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.