CostIndexUSA

Cleveland, OH vs Iowa City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Iowa City is slightly cheaper than Cleveland — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $78,000 in Iowa City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+5.8%
Cleveland
79.4
Iowa City
84
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cleveland
93.6
Iowa City
93.7
🚗 Transportation6.1%
Cleveland
103.9
Iowa City
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.1%
Cleveland
94
Iowa City
88.3
Utilities12.8%
Cleveland
96
Iowa City
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Iowa City, IA
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Iowa City

Formula: salary × (91.5 ÷ 93.9) = salary × 0.9744. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cleveland, OH

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

Iowa City, IA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Iowa City has 5.8% higher housing costs compared to Cleveland.

Income & Job Market

Cleveland, OH

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
372,624
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceTechnologyEducation

Iowa City, IA

Median Household Income
$71,900
Per Capita Income
$41,000
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
74,398
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyResearchGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Cleveland, OH
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Iowa City, IA
4.6×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.