CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Cleveland, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableOH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Cleveland is slightly cheaper than Cary — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cary, you would need $76,500 in Cleveland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.3%
Cary
103.5
Cleveland
79.4
🛒 Groceries3.1%
Cary
96.6
Cleveland
93.6
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Cary
103.1
Cleveland
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Cary
93.3
Cleveland
94
Utilities+7.9%
Cary
89
Cleveland
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Cleveland, OH
$76,500
$3,500 less needed in Cleveland

Formula: salary × (93.9 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 0.9562. 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×

Cleveland, OH

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

Cary has 23.3% lower housing costs compared to Cleveland.

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

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).

Cary, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.