CostIndexUSA

Cincinnati, OH vs Raleigh, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

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

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

To match an $80,000 salary in Cincinnati, you would need $82,400 in Raleigh. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+18.2%
Cincinnati
87.6
Raleigh
103.5
🛒 Groceries+3.0%
Cincinnati
93.8
Raleigh
96.6
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Cincinnati
104
Raleigh
103.1
🏥 Healthcare0.9%
Cincinnati
94.1
Raleigh
93.3
Utilities2.2%
Cincinnati
91
Raleigh
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Raleigh, NC
$82,400
$2,400 more needed in Raleigh

Formula: salary × (98.2 ÷ 95.4) = salary × 1.0294. 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×

Raleigh, NC

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

Raleigh has 18.2% higher housing costs compared to Cincinnati.

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

Raleigh, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
467,665
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareFinanceGovernment

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)

Raleigh, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.