Cleveland, OH vs Columbus, OH: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Columbus, OH is 1.6% more expensive than Cleveland, OH (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Cleveland works out to about $76,200 in Columbus, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 10.7% more in Columbus. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,525 a month in Columbus and $1,440 in Cleveland, $1,020 a year more in Columbus (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $327,000 in Columbus and $250,000 in Cleveland.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.5%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 10.7% higher in Columbus than in Cleveland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
All items Cleveland, OH: 93.9 Columbus, OH: 95.5
Goods Cleveland, OH: 93.6 Columbus, OH: 93.6
Housing (rents) Cleveland, OH: 79.4 Columbus, OH: 87.9
Utilities Cleveland, OH: 96.0 Columbus, OH: 95.5
Other services Cleveland, OH: 98.9 Columbus, OH: 98.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Cleveland, OH | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.9 | 95.5 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 79.4 | 87.9 |
| Utilities | 96.0 | 95.5 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Category | Cleveland | Columbus | Columbus vs Cleveland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.9 | 95.5 | +1.6% |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 79.4 | 87.9 | +10.7% |
| Utilities | 96.0 | 95.5 | −0.5% |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,440 | $1,525 | +5.9% |
| Typical home value | $250,000 | $327,000 | +30.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Cleveland | $75,000 | $76,200 | +1.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Cleveland and Columbus has narrowed since 2008: 4.0 points then, 1.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Cleveland, OH | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.6 | 96.6 |
| 2009 | 96.1 | 96.0 |
| 2010 | 94.2 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 94.8 | 94.1 |
| 2012 | 95.0 | 95.4 |
| 2013 | 96.3 | 95.5 |
| 2014 | 96.0 | 95.3 |
| 2015 | 95.4 | 94.5 |
| 2016 | 95.4 | 94.6 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 93.7 |
| 2018 | 94.6 | 95.3 |
| 2019 | 94.3 | 95.6 |
| 2020 | 93.3 | 94.4 |
| 2021 | 93.8 | 94.9 |
| 2022 | 93.0 | 94.1 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 94.6 |
| 2024 | 93.9 | 95.5 |
Goods
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Cleveland, OH | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.3 | 97.2 |
| 2009 | 95.5 | 96.7 |
| 2010 | 92.4 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 95.1 | 95.8 |
| 2012 | 98.0 | 97.1 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 96.9 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 98.3 |
| 2015 | 96.7 | 97.8 |
| 2016 | 94.9 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 95.5 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 93.9 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2022 | 92.3 | 92.3 |
| 2023 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 93.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Cleveland, OH | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.2 | 86.4 |
| 2009 | 88.0 | 84.5 |
| 2010 | 86.6 | 86.9 |
| 2011 | 85.0 | 84.1 |
| 2012 | 82.2 | 87.5 |
| 2013 | 90.1 | 87.1 |
| 2014 | 84.4 | 86.5 |
| 2015 | 83.0 | 87.7 |
| 2016 | 83.8 | 86.4 |
| 2017 | 83.6 | 85.9 |
| 2018 | 83.6 | 86.9 |
| 2019 | 79.4 | 85.8 |
| 2020 | 80.9 | 86.2 |
| 2021 | 81.7 | 87.4 |
| 2022 | 81.8 | 87.6 |
| 2023 | 78.2 | 87.1 |
| 2024 | 79.4 | 87.9 |
Utilities
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Cleveland, OH | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 112.7 | 99.7 |
| 2009 | 112.6 | 103.1 |
| 2010 | 90.4 | 97.6 |
| 2011 | 90.4 | 97.6 |
| 2012 | 86.6 | 95.3 |
| 2013 | 92.3 | 94.9 |
| 2014 | 89.6 | 89.5 |
| 2015 | 93.2 | 89.3 |
| 2016 | 90.4 | 85.1 |
| 2017 | 82.9 | 90.5 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 94.5 |
| 2019 | 90.4 | 90.7 |
| 2020 | 91.3 | 91.3 |
| 2021 | 92.1 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 87.2 | 87.6 |
| 2023 | 88.3 | 89.3 |
| 2024 | 96.0 | 95.5 |
Other services
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Cleveland, OH | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.4 | 99.2 |
| 2009 | 98.3 | 98.9 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 98.1 | 95.7 |
| 2012 | 97.8 | 96.5 |
| 2013 | 95.9 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 99.3 | 96.1 |
| 2015 | 98.6 | 94.6 |
| 2016 | 99.9 | 95.8 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 94.9 |
| 2018 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2019 | 98.5 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| 2021 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2022 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2023 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2024 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,525 in Columbus vs $1,440 in Cleveland
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Cleveland, OH | Columbus, OH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $813 | $868 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $820 | $885 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $826 | $897 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $821 | $903 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $829 | $908 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $840 | $932 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $841 | $922 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $834 | $929 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $852 | $953 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $869 | $967 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $867 | $975 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $861 | $977 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $882 | $1,003 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $890 | $1,024 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $896 | $1,027 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $904 | $1,023 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $916 | $1,047 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $938 | $1,064 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $940 | $1,070 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $939 | $1,069 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $960 | $1,093 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $984 | $1,107 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,009 | $1,124 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $999 | $1,127 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,028 | $1,152 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,054 | $1,199 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,088 | $1,230 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,106 | $1,240 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,126 | $1,260 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,165 | $1,317 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,184 | $1,340 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,179 | $1,317 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,194 | $1,340 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,218 | $1,378 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,238 | $1,388 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,253 | $1,381 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,270 | $1,392 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,306 | $1,433 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,317 | $1,446 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,332 | $1,436 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,350 | $1,460 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,368 | $1,487 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,378 | $1,482 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,392 | $1,469 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,412 | $1,484 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,420 | $1,507 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,440 | $1,525 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $327,000 in Columbus vs $250,000 in Cleveland
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Cleveland, OH | Columbus, OH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $122K | $154K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $123K | $157K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $126K | $160K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $127K | $163K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $129K | $166K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $131K | $168K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $131K | $169K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $133K | $171K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $135K | $174K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $137K | $178K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $139K | $181K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $141K | $184K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $143K | $188K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $146K | $192K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $148K | $195K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $149K | $198K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $153K | $201K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $154K | $206K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $155K | $209K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $156K | $212K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $159K | $216K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $160K | $220K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $163K | $226K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $172K | $236K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $179K | $247K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $187K | $258K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $189K | $262K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $189K | $264K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $197K | $278K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $206K | $293K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $207K | $296K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $207K | $294K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $207K | $294K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $211K | $300K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $216K | $306K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $219K | $309K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $222K | $313K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $227K | $317K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $230K | $318K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $233K | $320K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $236K | $322K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $238K | $321K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $241K | $323K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $243K | $325K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $246K | $326K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $248K | $325K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $250K | $327K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Cleveland, OH
- Cost of living in Columbus, OH
- Reverse: moving from Columbus to Cleveland
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.