Overall
93.9
-6.1 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Cleveland, OH
Cost-of-living indicators for Cleveland, OH, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 93.9
- Overall RPP
- #183
- of 387 metros
- 79.4
- Rents RPP
- $106K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Cleveland costs less than 47% of U.S. metros, an overall index of 93.9, 6.1% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 79.4.
- 93.9
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #183
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 53%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 79.4
- rents RPP, the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $106,470 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $93,923.
What the Numbers Mean for Cleveland
Cleveland ranks #183 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 93.9, Cleveland, OH is 6.1% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Cleveland's most and least expensive categories - the priciest line item versus rents at 79.4 - is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $106,470 inside Cleveland, while a household needs roughly $93,923 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 79.4 - 20.6% below the national average, so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Cleveland's overall index has stayed within 1.4 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.6 and services at 96.0, meaning everyday spending in Cleveland is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Cleveland vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
94 Top 47% higher than 53% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Cleveland cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
79.4 RPP
- Services
Services
96 RPP
- Overall
Overall
93.9 RPP
- Goods
Goods
93.6 RPP
What this shows Cleveland's gap from the national average is led by rents at 79.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Cleveland's cost comes from
Metros near Cleveland's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 95.4, rents 79.4). Cleveland is more housing-led than its peers, its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Cleveland's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
93.6
-6.4 below avg
Services
96.0
-4.0 below avg
Rents
79.4
-20.6 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$93,923
in Cleveland, OH purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$46,962
$75,000 nationally
$70,442
$125,000 nationally
$117,404
$150,000 nationally
$140,885
$200,000 nationally
$187,846
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.4 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.6 |
| 2009 | 96.1 |
| 2010 | 94.2 |
| 2011 | 94.8 |
| 2012 | 95.0 |
| 2013 | 96.3 |
| 2014 | 96.0 |
| 2015 | 95.4 |
| 2016 | 95.4 |
| 2017 | 95.3 |
| 2018 | 94.6 |
| 2019 | 94.3 |
| 2020 | 93.3 |
| 2021 | 93.8 |
| 2022 | 93.0 |
| 2023 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 93.9 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Cleveland, OH's index of 93.9.
Other OH Metros
What this means for Cleveland
How to read Cleveland's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay, a $100K national salary spends like about $106,470 in Cleveland. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 79.4 (20.6% below average) - the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $68,507; adjusted for Cleveland's price level that is about $72,940 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Cleveland head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Cleveland, OH? ▼
Cleveland, OH has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 93.9, meaning it is 6.1% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.6, services at 96.0, and rents at 79.4. It ranks #183 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Cleveland, OH to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $93,923 in Cleveland, OH. Conversely, $100K earned in Cleveland, OH has the purchasing power of $106,470 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Cleveland, OH? ▼
Rents in Cleveland, OH are indexed at 79.4, which is 20.6% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Cleveland, OH getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Cleveland, OH's overall cost index changed by +1.4 points (from 92.6 to 93.9). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Cleveland, OH? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Tallahassee, Hinesville, Odessa. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Cleveland, OH's 93.9.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
