Cost of living in Ohio
Prices in Ohio are 7.2% below the US average (35th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $1,619 in state income tax. State sales tax: 5.75%.
Price levels in Ohio
| BEA RPP 2024 | Ohio | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.8 | −7.2% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 73.0 | −27.0% |
| Utilities | 95.8 | −4.2% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Metros in Ohio
Metros whose principal city is in Ohio. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2,312,858 | 95.4 | $1,442 | $295 | $1,324 |
| Columbus, OH | 2,242,028 | 95.5 | $1,602 | $295 | $1,072 |
| Cleveland, OH | 2,165,775 | 93.9 | $1,274 | $295 | $1,368 |
| Dayton, OH | 826,554 | 92.7 | $1,248 | $295 | $1,410 |
| Akron, OH | 701,780 | 93.4 | $1,231 | $295 | $1,466 |
| Toledo, OH | 599,376 | 91.5 | $1,145 | $295 | $1,543 |
| Youngstown, OH | 423,678 | 87.4 | $1,003 | $222 | $1,742 |
| Canton, OH | 400,246 | 89.4 | $1,049 | $222 | $1,716 |
| Springfield, OH | 135,340 | 90.5 | $1,160 | $222 | $1,656 |
| Mansfield, OH | 124,893 | 88.9 | $1,035 | $174 | $1,721 |
| Sandusky, OH | 112,777 | 89.3 | $1,221 | $222 | $1,566 |
| Lima, OH | 100,881 | 89.7 | $1,179 | $174 | $1,642 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Ohio: Huntington, WV-KY-OH, Wheeling, WV-OH, Weirton, WV-OH.
Taxes in Ohio (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Ohio income tax | $932 | $1,619 | $2,863 | $2,707 |
| Ohio payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,452 | $4,998 | $7,532 | $8,539 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Ohio’s income and payroll taxes cost $1,619 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Ohio
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $222 | $14,103 | $170 |
| Toddler (2) | $200 | $12,713 | $165 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $175 | $11,124 | $155 |
| School-age (5–12) | $126 | $8,009 | $139 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $174 a week in Wyandot County to $295 in Athens County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 88 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga County | $195,400 | $3,910 | 2.00% |
| Montgomery County | $180,900 | $3,127 | 1.73% |
| Lucas County | $163,900 | $2,773 | 1.69% |
| Lake County | $214,100 | $3,475 | 1.62% |
| Greene County | $252,200 | $4,071 | 1.61% |
| Perry County | $191,100 | $1,813 | 0.95% |
| Belmont County | $154,900 | $1,469 | 0.95% |
| Carroll County | $183,100 | $1,725 | 0.94% |
| Lawrence County | $144,000 | $1,215 | 0.84% |
| Brown County | $196,200 | $1,600 | 0.82% |
Five highest and five lowest of 41 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Ohio
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 197,890 in, 177,385 out (net +20,505).
Frequently asked questions
Is Ohio expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Ohio’s overall price level at 92.8 in 2024 (US = 100), the 35th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 73.0 and goods 93.7.
Does Ohio have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $1,619 in Ohio income tax under 2026 law (2.2% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Ohio?+
The state rate is 5.75% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Ohio?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Youngstown, OH leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,742), and Columbus, OH the least ($1,072).