Cost of Living in Cleveland, OH
Cleveland is about 20% cheaper than the national average.
What Things Cost
Compared to the US average (100)
Census ACS 2024
Census ACS 2024
BEA RPP 2023
BEA RPP 2023
Cleveland at a Glance
On the median income of $43,383, state income tax is roughly $1,518/year.
Sources: Census ACS 2024, Tax Foundation.
Cleveland has the lowest housing costs of any major metro with world-class cultural institutions. The Cleveland Clinic (ranked #2 hospital in America), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Museum of Art (free), and a lakefront on Lake Erie all exist in a city where the median home price is about $115,000. That number is not a typo. The cost of living is roughly 13.5% below the national average. For anyone with income sourced elsewhere, the purchasing power is extraordinary.
How People Get Around
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Who Lives Here
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Why People Move to Cleveland
The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals provide world-class healthcare and thousands of jobs. The cultural institutions are genuinely exceptional for a city of this cost: the orchestra, art museum, natural history museum, and botanical garden rival those of cities five times the price. The lakefront and Cuyahoga Valley National Park provide outdoor access. The food scene (Great Lakes Brewing, West Side Market, the growing Tremont restaurant corridor) has real depth.
Neighborhoods
Tremont has become the restaurant and arts neighborhood. Ohio City has the West Side Market and craft breweries. The Flats have been redeveloped with waterfront restaurants. University Circle (Cleveland Clinic, Case Western, museums) is the cultural core. Lakewood is a walkable inner suburb. Shaker Heights and Rocky River are established affluent suburbs. For affordable homeownership, the city proper offers homes under $100,000 in many neighborhoods.
Things to Consider
Cleveland has lost significant population over decades and continues to shrink slowly. Some neighborhoods have severe blight and crime. The 2.5% city income tax on top of Ohio's state rate increases the effective tax burden. Lake-effect snow is substantial (60+ inches per year). The weather is gray from November through March. The job market outside healthcare and education is narrower than peer metros. The Browns test the patience of even the most loyal sports fans.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cleveland
Yes. The median home price of about $115,000 is among the lowest of any major metro in America. You can buy a quality home in Tremont or Ohio City for $200,000-$350,000, neighborhoods with restaurants, breweries, and walkable character. The desirable inner suburbs (Lakewood, Shaker Heights) cost $150,000-$400,000. By any major-city standard, Cleveland's housing is extraordinary.
It varies enormously. The city's overall crime statistics are elevated, but neighborhoods like Tremont, Ohio City, University Circle, and the west-side suburbs have safety levels comparable to any mid-size city. Some east-side neighborhoods have serious crime challenges. Neighborhood selection is more important in Cleveland than in almost any other US city.
The Cleveland Clinic is consistently ranked among the top 2-3 hospitals in America and is the city's largest employer at roughly 70,000 workers. It is a world-class medical institution that draws patients globally. For healthcare careers, having the Clinic in your metro is an enormous advantage. The quality of care available to Cleveland residents is comparable to what people in New York or Boston access.