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Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

Cost of living in Cincinnati, Ohio

Hamilton County, OH

Part of the Cincinnati Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,949/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 827,878 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $993 34%
Federal tax $551 19%
Healthcare $480 16%
Groceries $320 11%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $194 7%
Water $50 2%
State tax $41 1%

Rent in Cincinnati

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$883
per month
1 bedroom
$993
per month
2 bedroom
$1,287
per month
3 bedroom
$1,707
per month
4 bedroom
$1,885
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Cincinnati

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$70,816
per year
Individual earnings
$43,752
per year
Per capita
$44,328
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Cincinnati

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$225,700
Annual property tax
$3,461

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Cincinnati

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 Cincinnati

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.8%

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 Cincinnati

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 Cincinnati

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
23.3 min
Drive alone
71.9%
Public transit
2.8%
Work from home
13.7%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Cincinnati

What it costs to live in Cincinnati each month.

Single person
$2,949
per month
  • Rent $993
  • Energy $194
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $320
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $551
  • State tax $41
Couple
$4,326
per month
  • Rent $1,287
  • Energy $233
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $530
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $829
  • State tax $103
Family
$6,875
per month
  • Rent $1,707
  • Energy $291
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $805
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $829
  • State tax $103

Frequently asked questions about Cincinnati

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Cincinnati?

In Cincinnati, Ohio, a one-bedroom apartment averages $993 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,287 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,707 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Cincinnati?

In Cincinnati, Ohio, the average household income is $70,816 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $43,752 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Cincinnati?

The estimated cost of living in Cincinnati, Ohio is approximately $2,949 per month for a single person, $4,326 for a couple, $6,875 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Cincinnati?

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

Is Cincinnati an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Cincinnati, Ohio would need approximately $2,949 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $70,816 per year ($5,901 per month). Cincinnati is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Cincinnati?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Cincinnati, Ohio is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Cincinnati?

The average home value in Cincinnati, Ohio is $225,700, with average annual property taxes of $3,461, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Cincinnati compare to other areas?

You can compare Cincinnati, Ohio with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Cincinnati is in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 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 Cincinnati 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