Cincinnati vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cincinnati
Medford
The Verdict
Living in Cincinnati costs 14.2% less than Medford. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cincinnati, you would need $87,363 in Medford.
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 $87,363 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $64,387 in Cincinnati.
Living in Cincinnati vs Medford
Housing Costs
Cincinnati's housing index of 76 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $406,000. The $211,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,716 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cincinnati compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cincinnati and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cincinnati vs $513/month in Medford. Cincinnati offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Cincinnati and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Cincinnati vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cincinnati and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $44,003 in Cincinnati and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,355 and $69,057 respectively. Medford 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 $1,708/month in Medford. In Cincinnati, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 63 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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