Cincinnati vs Duluth
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cincinnati
Duluth
The Verdict
Duluth is 7.1% less expensive than Cincinnati overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cincinnati would need approximately $70,055 in Duluth to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has the same purchasing power as $70,055 in Duluth.
Conversely, $75,000 in Duluth equals $80,294 in Cincinnati.
Living in Cincinnati vs Duluth
Housing Costs
Cincinnati's housing index of 76 is lower Duluth's 88, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $268,000. The $73,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,740 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cincinnati compared to $1,025/mo in Duluth, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cincinnati and 99 in Duluth. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cincinnati vs $470/month in Duluth. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Cincinnati and 94 in Duluth. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Cincinnati vs $376 in Duluth. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cincinnati and 123 in Duluth. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $44,003 in Cincinnati and $68,800 in Duluth. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,355 and $80,941 respectively. Duluth residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,027/month to housing in Cincinnati vs $1,605/month in Duluth. In Cincinnati, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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