Youngstown, OH vs Sandusky, OH: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Sandusky, OH is 2.2% more expensive than Youngstown, OH (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Youngstown works out to about $76,600 in Sandusky, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 11.3% more in Sandusky. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,812 a month in Sandusky and $1,047 in Youngstown, $9,180 a year more in Sandusky (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $240,000 in Sandusky and $175,000 in Youngstown.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Sandusky was 4.2% more expensive than Youngstown.
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: 11.3% higher in Sandusky than in Youngstown
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Youngstown, OH
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Youngstown, OH | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.4 | 89.3 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 53.4 | 59.5 |
| Utilities | 96.3 | 96.7 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Category | Youngstown | Sandusky | Sandusky vs Youngstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.4 | 89.3 | +2.2% |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 53.4 | 59.5 | +11.3% |
| Utilities | 96.3 | 96.7 | +0.4% |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,047 | $1,812 | +73.1% |
| Typical home value | $175,000 | $240,000 | +37.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Youngstown | $75,000 | $76,600 | +2.2% |
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 Youngstown and Sandusky has narrowed since 2008: 8.1 points then, 1.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Youngstown, OH
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Youngstown, OH | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.3 | 83.2 |
| 2009 | 90.9 | 86.0 |
| 2010 | 90.6 | 87.4 |
| 2011 | 89.2 | 87.2 |
| 2012 | 90.8 | 90.2 |
| 2013 | 90.4 | 89.5 |
| 2014 | 90.0 | 88.4 |
| 2015 | 88.7 | 87.5 |
| 2016 | 87.8 | 83.2 |
| 2017 | 87.8 | 85.7 |
| 2018 | 88.6 | 89.8 |
| 2019 | 88.8 | 92.5 |
| 2020 | 86.1 | 88.7 |
| 2021 | 86.9 | 89.1 |
| 2022 | 86.5 | 87.2 |
| 2023 | 85.9 | 89.0 |
| 2024 | 87.4 | 89.3 |
Goods
- Youngstown, OH
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Youngstown, OH | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 77.7 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 84.8 |
| 2010 | 96.3 | 93.8 |
| 2011 | 95.9 | 94.2 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 95.3 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 94.5 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 95.5 |
| 2015 | 97.9 | 95.9 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 94.4 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 93.7 |
| 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)
- Youngstown, OH
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Youngstown, OH | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 60.6 | 66.9 |
| 2009 | 60.4 | 67.1 |
| 2010 | 62.0 | 60.5 |
| 2011 | 60.3 | 65.5 |
| 2012 | 64.4 | 72.7 |
| 2013 | 63.8 | 72.1 |
| 2014 | 61.5 | 64.5 |
| 2015 | 59.3 | 66.3 |
| 2016 | 55.2 | 50.2 |
| 2017 | 57.4 | 63.4 |
| 2018 | 56.6 | 62.6 |
| 2019 | 57.2 | 70.6 |
| 2020 | 53.2 | 59.0 |
| 2021 | 53.7 | 60.7 |
| 2022 | 51.8 | 56.6 |
| 2023 | 50.4 | 58.4 |
| 2024 | 53.4 | 59.5 |
Utilities
- Youngstown, OH
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Youngstown, OH | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 88.8 |
| 2009 | 104.8 | 89.3 |
| 2010 | 97.9 | 93.7 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 83.8 |
| 2012 | 96.1 | 83.1 |
| 2013 | 95.4 | 85.5 |
| 2014 | 88.7 | 86.1 |
| 2015 | 88.3 | 86.9 |
| 2016 | 83.2 | 86.5 |
| 2017 | 90.2 | 87.1 |
| 2018 | 94.3 | 94.0 |
| 2019 | 90.6 | 90.8 |
| 2020 | 91.2 | 91.2 |
| 2021 | 92.1 | 91.9 |
| 2022 | 87.3 | 87.5 |
| 2023 | 88.8 | 89.4 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 96.7 |
Other services
- Youngstown, OH
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Youngstown, OH | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.5 | 94.1 |
| 2009 | 99.1 | 95.1 |
| 2010 | 98.7 | 94.8 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 91.3 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 93.6 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 93.1 |
| 2014 | 96.3 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 94.8 | 90.2 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 89.4 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 88.9 |
| 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: $1,812 in Sandusky vs $1,047 in Youngstown
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Youngstown, OH
- Sandusky, 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
| Youngstown, OH | Sandusky, OH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $573 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $584 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $570 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $577 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $582 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $588 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $596 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $597 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $602 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $609 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $606 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $609 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $622 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $629 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $636 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $636 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $644 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $650 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $646 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $653 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $665 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $691 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $700 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $706 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $735 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $771 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $796 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $806 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $817 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $833 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $840 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $855 | – | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $870 | – | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $878 | – | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $892 | – | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $915 | – | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $915 | – | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $942 | – | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $952 | – | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $966 | – | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $986 | – | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $985 | $1,604 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $997 | $1,630 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,006 | – | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,025 | $1,634 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,039 | $1,758 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,047 | $1,812 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $240,000 in Sandusky vs $175,000 in Youngstown
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Youngstown, OH
- Sandusky, 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
| Youngstown, OH | Sandusky, OH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $83K | $125K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $84K | $126K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $86K | $126K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $87K | $126K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $88K | $127K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $88K | $128K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $88K | $128K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $89K | $129K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $91K | $131K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $90K | $132K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $92K | $133K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $93K | $135K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $95K | $136K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $96K | $139K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $97K | $139K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $97K | $140K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $99K | $143K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $101K | $145K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $102K | $147K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $103K | $149K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $105K | $151K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $106K | $153K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $109K | $157K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $116K | $165K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $121K | $172K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $126K | $178K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $129K | $181K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $131K | $183K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $136K | $190K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $141K | $198K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $142K | $198K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $142K | $200K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $142K | $199K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $145K | $203K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $148K | $209K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $150K | $211K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $152K | $214K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $156K | $219K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $158K | $223K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $160K | $227K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $163K | $232K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $164K | $232K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $167K | $232K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $170K | $233K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $172K | $235K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $174K | $237K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $175K | $240K | $366K |
More about each city
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.