Ohio

Avg COL Index

88

vs. 100 national avg

Where the money goes

The biggest cost pressure in Ohio is electricity, at 5% above the national average. The biggest break is rent, at 34% below it.

Rent trend

Rent rose an average of 4.4% over the past year across the 17 cities we track, faster than the 2.7% national change. Sandusky saw the biggest move (up 11.2%), while Ashtabula was up just 0.0%.

City to city

Where you live inside Ohio matters. Typical rent runs from $894 in Mansfield to $1,812 in Sandusky, a gap of $918 a month or about $11,016 a year.

Affordability

Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 41% of median household income in the counties we track, which ranks near the middle of 51 states. Median household income there averages $65,612 (Census ACS 2023). Groceries are counted at what the average household in the region spends on food at home (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).

Energy and driving

Regular gas costs $3.75 a gallon, 6% below the $3.98 national average. A typical electric bill runs about $174 a month versus $166 nationally, and full coverage car insurance averages $1,580 a year versus $2,150.

Groceries

Grocery prices in the Midwest rose 1.5% over the past year (BLS food at home), compared with 1.8% nationally. Item prices on our city pages are national BLS averages, so local stores may be higher or lower.