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State cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Cost of Living in Ohio

Statewide Regional Price Parities for Ohio from the Bureau of Economic Analysis — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100, across 12 metro areas.

92.8
Statewide RPP
#35
of 51 states by cost
73.0
Rents RPP
12
Metro areas

The verdict

Ohio costs less than 69% of U.S. states — a statewide index of 92.8, 7.2% below the national average.

92.8
statewide cost index (US average = 100)
#35
of 51 states by overall cost
bottom 31%
nationally, among all states
73.0
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $107,789 when earned in Ohio.

Reading the Ohio Cost of Living Picture

The Bureau of Economic Analysis places Ohio's statewide Regional Price Parity at 92.8 for the 2024 data year, 7.2% less expensive the U.S. baseline of 100. Inside the headline figure, the state's categories sit near average, while rents offer the biggest relief at 73.0. That internal spread — rather than the single state number — is what determines whether a household actually feels priced in or priced out.

Ohio captures 12 metro areas in the BEA dataset, and the range across them is meaningful. Columbus, OH leads on cost at 95.5, while Youngstown-Warren, OH sits at the opposite end at 87.4 — a gap of 8.1 index points inside a single state. For goods the state indexes at 93.7, for services 95.8, and for rents 73.0 — the rent figure tends to be the most volatile input and deserves its own line-item review before any relocation decision.

Over time, Ohio's statewide index has held steady within 0.2 points, suggesting a stable competitive position against other states. Practically, this means a $100,000 national salary delivers the purchasing power of about $107,789 of national buying power when earned inside Ohio, and a household relocating here would need roughly $92,774 to reproduce a $100K lifestyle. Pair these numbers with metro-specific wage data and rent tables before treating the statewide figure as your planning assumption.

92.8
Overall
93.7
Goods
95.8
Services
73.0
Rents

Ohio vs every U.S. state

Where this state sits in the national cost distribution

93 Top 69% higher than 31% of 51 US states

84–87: 2 US states (4%). Below this entry. 87–90: 7 US states (14%). Below this entry. 90–93: 8 US states (16%). This entry sits in this band. 93–96: 6 US states (12%). Above this entry. 96–99: 8 US states (16%). Above this entry. 99–102: 5 US states (10%). Above this entry. 102–105: 8 US states (16%). Above this entry. 105–108: 3 US states (6%). Above this entry. 108–111: 4 US states (8%). Above this entry. 111–114: 0 US states (0%). Above this entry. 114–117: 0 US states (0%). Above this entry. This state 84 117 every US state (incl. DC), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US states. 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

Most Expensive in Ohio → Cheapest in Ohio →

Metro areas in Ohio, ranked by cost

# Metro area OverallGoodsServicesRents
1 Columbus 95.5 93.6 95.5 87.9
2 Cincinnati 95.4 93.8 91.0 87.6
3 Cleveland 93.9 93.6 96.0 79.4
4 Akron 93.4 93.6 96.4 76.8
5 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek 92.7 93.6 95.4 72.7
6 Toledo 91.5 93.6 96.3 67.3
7 Springfield 90.5 93.6 97.2 61.7
8 Lima 89.7 93.6 95.8 57.3
9 Canton-Massillon 89.4 93.6 96.9 58.1
10 Sandusky 89.3 93.6 96.7 59.5
11 Mansfield 88.9 93.6 96.2 54.9
12 Youngstown-Warren 87.4 93.6 96.3 53.4

The Rents RPP index measures housing costs relative to the national average (100). For the federal 40th-percentile Fair Market Rent by bedroom size and county, see the HUD Fair Market Rents dataset.

RPP History

Year Overall
2008 92.5
2009 93.5
2010 93.1
2011 92.2
2012 93.0
2013 93.3
2014 93.0
2015 92.2
2016 92.3
2017 91.9
2018 93.0
2019 93.3
2020 91.9
2021 92.2
2022 91.5
2023 91.9
2024 92.8

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
Cost of Living vs Wages
Where your dollar goes furthest
Understanding Regional Price Parities
How BEA constructs RPP data

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Ohio? ▼
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 92.8, meaning it is 7.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.7, services at 95.8, and rents at 73.0.
What salary in Ohio equals $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $92,774 in Ohio. Conversely, $100K earned in Ohio has the purchasing power of $107,789 at the national average.
Is housing expensive in Ohio? ▼
Rents in Ohio are indexed at 73.0, which is 27.0% below the national average. The state is relatively affordable for renters.
Which is the most expensive metro in Ohio? ▼
The most expensive metro area in Ohio is Columbus, OH with an RPP of 95.5. The most affordable is Youngstown-Warren, OH at 87.4. There are 12 metro areas in Ohio with BEA price data.
Is Ohio getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Ohio's overall cost index changed by +0.2 points (from 92.5 to 92.8). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities Index where national average = 100

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.