CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Cincinnati, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableOH
Cincinnati
95.4
overall index
$1,525/mo rent

Cincinnati is slightly cheaper than Cary — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cary, you would need $77,700 in Cincinnati. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing15.4%
Cary
103.5
Cincinnati
87.6
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Cary
96.6
Cincinnati
93.8
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Cary
103.1
Cincinnati
104
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Cary
93.3
Cincinnati
94.1
Utilities+2.2%
Cary
89
Cincinnati
91

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Cincinnati, OH
$77,700
$2,300 less needed in Cincinnati

Formula: salary × (95.4 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 0.9715. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cary, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Cincinnati, OH

Median Home Price
$296,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
87.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Cary has 15.4% lower housing costs compared to Cincinnati.

Income & Job Market

Cary, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
174,721
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceHealthcareEducationResearch

Cincinnati, OH

Median Household Income
$77,800
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
309,317
Top Industries
FinanceManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

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

Cary, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Cincinnati, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.