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Cleveland, OH

Cost of living in Cleveland, Ohio

Cuyahoga County, OH

Part of the Cleveland Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,929/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 1,249,418 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $995 34%
Federal tax $532 18%
Healthcare $480 16%
Groceries $320 11%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $194 7%
Water $50 2%
State tax $38 1%

Rent in Cleveland

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$881
per month
1 bedroom
$995
per month
2 bedroom
$1,208
per month
3 bedroom
$1,553
per month
4 bedroom
$1,667
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Cleveland

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$62,823
per year
Individual earnings
$42,589
per year
Per capita
$41,559
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Cleveland

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$183,200
Annual property tax
$3,819

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Cleveland

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$131
per month · 15.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$63
per month
Annual total
$2,328
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Cleveland

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.5%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Cleveland

State and local tax rates for Ohio.

State income tax
3.5%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
5.8%
Combined sales tax
7.2%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Cleveland

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
23.6 min
Drive alone
71.7%
Public transit
3.3%
Work from home
13.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Cleveland

What it costs to live in Cleveland each month.

Single person
$2,929
per month
  • Rent $995
  • Energy $194
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $320
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $532
  • State tax $38
Couple
$4,097
per month
  • Rent $1,208
  • Energy $233
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $530
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $698
  • State tax $84
Family
$6,571
per month
  • Rent $1,553
  • Energy $291
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $805
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $698
  • State tax $84

Frequently asked questions about Cleveland

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Cleveland?

In Cleveland, Ohio, a one-bedroom apartment averages $995 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,208 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,553 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Cleveland?

In Cleveland, Ohio, the average household income is $62,823 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $42,589 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Cleveland?

The estimated cost of living in Cleveland, Ohio is approximately $2,929 per month for a single person, $4,097 for a couple, $6,571 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Cleveland?

The combined sales tax rate in Cleveland, Ohio is 7.24%, which includes the Ohio state rate of 5.75% plus an average local rate of 1.49%.

Is Cleveland an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Cleveland, Ohio would need approximately $2,929 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $62,823 per year ($5,235 per month). Cleveland has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Cleveland?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Cleveland, Ohio is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.5% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Cleveland?

The average home value in Cleveland, Ohio is $183,200, with average annual property taxes of $3,819, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Cleveland compare to other areas?

You can compare Cleveland, Ohio with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Cleveland is in the Cleveland, OH metro area.

Other counties in Ohio

Browse the full list of counties in Ohio, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Ohio

Compare Cleveland with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources