Cleveland, OH vs. Columbus, OH
Median rent is $894 a month in Cleveland, OH and $1,224 in Columbus, OH. Household income is $39,187 against $65,327. Both cities are read from the same ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates and the same BEA Regional Price Parities 2023, so the two columns below are directly comparable.
A green or red badge means the second city is higher or lower, not better or worse: a lower rent is good for a tenant, a lower household income is not. For the price level and
the share of income the raw values are shown, because a percentage difference between two
percentages is easy to misread.
What the gap means
Occupation wages in both metros
May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Metropolitan areas may differ from city boundaries.
| Occupation | Cleveland, OH median | Columbus, OH median | vs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,750 | $28,670 | -0.3% |
| Registered Nurses | $83,940 | $83,900 | -0.0% |
| General and Operations Managers | $97,750 | $102,590 | +5.0% |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,000 | $33,780 | +9.0% |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,040 | $46,350 | +0.7% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,260 | $37,490 | +3.4% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,970 | $61,720 | +4.7% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $36,230 | $37,310 | +3.0% |
Metropolitan areas and cover every industry together, so the two columns may describe wider areas than the city limits used for rent and income.
Cleveland, OH vs Columbus, OH: frequently asked questions
Is Columbus, OH more expensive than Cleveland, OH?
Yes. Prices in Columbus, OH are about 1.6% higher than in Cleveland, OH: a regional price level of 94.5 against 93.0, where the U.S. average is 100.
How much do I need to earn in Columbus, OH to keep a $100,000 lifestyle from Cleveland, OH?
About $101,600. Adjusting $100,000 by the BEA regional price levels of the two areas (93.0 in Cleveland, OH, 94.5 in Columbus, OH) gives the salary with the same purchasing power. Taxes and personal spending habits are not included.
Is rent cheaper in Cleveland, OH or Columbus, OH?
The median gross rent is $894 a month in Cleveland, OH and $1,224 in Columbus, OH, a difference of $330 a month or $3,960 a year.
Where are household incomes higher, Cleveland, OH or Columbus, OH?
The median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $65,327 in Columbus, OH. Rent takes 27.4% of the median income in Cleveland, OH and 22.5% in Columbus, OH.
What salary do I need to afford the median rent in Columbus, OH?
About $49,000 a year, the gross income that keeps the median rent of $1,224 a month at 30% of income. The same rule gives $35,800 in Cleveland, OH.
More comparisons with Cleveland, OH
More comparisons with Columbus, OH
Definitions used on this page
- Salary needed for the median rent
- Twelve months of median gross rent divided by 0.30: the income that keeps the median rent at 30% of gross pay.
- Price level
- BEA regional price parity for the metro area where one is published, otherwise for the state. The national average is 100.
- Same standard of living
- A salary in Cleveland, OH converted into Columbus, OH at the ratio of the two price levels. It adjusts for prices only, not for taxes or for what either city offers.
- Buying power
- One hundred divided by the price level: what a dollar buys locally relative to the national average.
Sources
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- BEA — BEA Regional Price Parities 2023
Margins of error are published for every Census figure. Read the methodology before reading a small gap between two cities as a real difference.
Full detail for each city: Cleveland, OH · Columbus, OH