Cleveland vs Columbus
Cleveland, OH · Columbus, OH
Cleveland is 6% cheaper than Columbus overall.
Home Price
Cleveland: $175,000
Columbus: $265,000
Monthly Rent
Cleveland: $950/mo
Columbus: $1,199/mo
COL Index
Cleveland: 85
Columbus: 90
Median Income
Cleveland: $52,600
Columbus: $64,600
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Cleveland has the same purchasing power as $105,882 in Columbus — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Columbus are 51% cheaper (-$90,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Cleveland saves you $249/month — $2,988 per year. Median rent: $950/mo in Cleveland vs $1,199/mo in Columbus.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Cleveland owners pay roughly $2,800/year in property taxes vs $4,240/year in Columbus. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $52,600 in Cleveland and $64,600 in Columbus. Cleveland residents earn 23% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 25 minutes in Cleveland vs 23 minutes in Columbus. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Cleveland to Columbus, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Cleveland | Equivalent in Columbus | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $52,941 | +$2,941 |
| $75,000 | $79,412 | +$4,412 |
| $100,000 | $105,882 | +$5,882 |
| $150,000 | $158,824 | +$8,824 |
| $200,000 | $211,765 | +$11,765 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Cleveland Calculators
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Cleveland vs Columbus: Common Questions
Is Cleveland or Columbus cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Cleveland is cheaper overall. Cleveland has a COL index of 85 while Columbus scores 90 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Cleveland and Columbus?
The median home price in Cleveland is $175,000 vs $265,000 in Columbus — a difference of $90,000 (51%).
What salary do I need in Columbus to match my Cleveland income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Cleveland is equivalent to $105,882 in Columbus in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Columbus has a lower property tax rate (1.6% vs 1.6%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,800/year vs $4,240/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.