City Comparison

Brooklyn vs Youngstown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Brooklyn

New York
195
Very Expensive
$780,000
Median Home
$2,900/mo
Median Rent
$65,294
Median Income

Youngstown

Ohio
82
Very Affordable
$102,000
Median Home
$725/mo
Median Rent
$34,600
Median Income

The Verdict

137.8%

Youngstown is 137.8% less expensive than Brooklyn overall. A household earning $75,000 in Brooklyn would need approximately $31,538 in Youngstown to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
325
Brooklyn
41
Youngstown
Groceries
108
Brooklyn
98
Youngstown
Utilities
135
Brooklyn
96
Youngstown
Transportation
108
Brooklyn
101
Youngstown
Healthcare
108
Brooklyn
90
Youngstown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $31,538 in Youngstown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Youngstown equals $178,354 in Brooklyn.

Living in Brooklyn vs Youngstown

Housing Costs

Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher Youngstown's 41, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $102,000. The $678,000 difference in home prices means roughly $44,076 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $725/mo in Youngstown, a monthly difference of $2,175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 98 in Youngstown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $466/month in Youngstown. Youngstown offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 96 in Youngstown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn vs $384 in Youngstown. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Brooklyn and 90 in Youngstown. 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 $65,294 in Brooklyn and $34,600 in Youngstown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 and $42,195 respectively. Youngstown residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $807/month in Youngstown. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Youngstown, median rent of $725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 284 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Youngstown is 137.8% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 195.
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $31,538 in Youngstown, based on the cost of living difference.
Brooklyn's housing index is 325 with median homes at $780,000, while Youngstown's is 41 with median homes at $102,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases