CostIndexUSA

Cincinnati, OH vs Columbus, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostOH
Cincinnati
95.4
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
OH
Columbus
95.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Cincinnati and Columbus have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing≈ Equal
Cincinnati
87.6
Columbus
87.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cincinnati
93.8
Columbus
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Cincinnati
104
Columbus
103.9
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Cincinnati
94.1
Columbus
94
Utilities+4.9%
Cincinnati
91
Columbus
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Columbus, OH
$80,100
$100 more needed in Columbus

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 95.4) = salary × 1.0010. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cincinnati, OH

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

Columbus, OH

Median Home Price
$317,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
87.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Income & Job Market

Cincinnati, OH

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

Columbus, OH

Median Household Income
$77,400
Per Capita Income
$44,100
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
905,748
Top Industries
FinanceRetailHealthcareEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Cincinnati, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Columbus, OH
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.