CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs Cleveland, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableOH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Cleveland is slightly cheaper than Charlotte — 3.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $77,200 in Cleveland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing18.6%
Charlotte
97.6
Cleveland
79.4
🛒 Groceries3.1%
Charlotte
96.6
Cleveland
93.6
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Charlotte
103.1
Cleveland
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Charlotte
93.3
Cleveland
94
Utilities+7.6%
Charlotte
89.2
Cleveland
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Cleveland, OH
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in Cleveland

Formula: salary × (93.9 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9651. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Cleveland, OH

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

Charlotte has 18.6% lower housing costs compared to Cleveland.

Income & Job Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

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).

Charlotte, NC
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.