City Comparison

Alexandria vs Toledo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

The Verdict

88.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 88.3%, with Toledo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to $39,828 in Toledo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
55
Toledo
Groceries
113
Alexandria
98
Toledo
Utilities
97
Alexandria
92
Toledo
Transportation
107
Alexandria
101
Toledo
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
84
Toledo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $39,828 in Toledo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $141,234 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Toledo

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $128,000. The $462,000 difference in home prices means roughly $30,036 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $1,300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $466/month in Toledo. Toledo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $368 in Toledo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 84 in Toledo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $54,805 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $985/month in Toledo. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 146 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 88.3% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $39,828 in Toledo, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Toledo's is 55 with median homes at $128,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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