CostIndexUSA

Cleveland, OH vs Rochester, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
NY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Cleveland is slightly cheaper than Rochester — 3.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $82,600 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+10.2%
Cleveland
79.4
Rochester
87.5
🛒 Groceries+6.5%
Cleveland
93.6
Rochester
99.7
🚗 Transportation1.3%
Cleveland
103.9
Rochester
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.2%
Cleveland
94
Rochester
92.9
Utilities+38.7%
Cleveland
96
Rochester
133.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, NY
$82,600
$2,600 more needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (97 ÷ 93.9) = salary × 1.0330. 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×

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Rochester has 10.2% 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

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

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)

Rochester, NY
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.