CostIndexUSA

Baltimore, MD vs Cleveland, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MD
Baltimore
104.5
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableOH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Cleveland is moderately cheaper than Baltimore — 10.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baltimore, you would need $71,900 in Cleveland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing32.8%
Baltimore
118.2
Cleveland
79.4
🛒 Groceries8.6%
Baltimore
102.4
Cleveland
93.6
🚗 Transportation2.5%
Baltimore
106.6
Cleveland
103.9
🏥 Healthcare2.5%
Baltimore
96.4
Cleveland
94
Utilities12.9%
Baltimore
110.2
Cleveland
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Baltimore to see what you'd need to earn in Cleveland to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Cleveland, OH
$71,900
$8,100 less needed in Cleveland

Formula: salary × (93.9 ÷ 104.5) = salary × 0.8986. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baltimore, MD

Median Home Price
$391,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
118.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.6×

Cleveland, OH

Median Home Price
$236,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.0×

Baltimore has 32.8% lower housing costs compared to Cleveland.

Income & Job Market

Baltimore, MD

Median Household Income
$94,300
Per Capita Income
$53,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
585,708
Top Industries
HealthcareGovernmentFinanceEducationManufacturing

Cleveland, OH

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
372,624
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceTechnologyEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Baltimore, MD
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Cleveland, OH
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.