City Comparison

Cincinnati vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cincinnati

Ohio
91
Below Average
$195,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$44,003
Median Income

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

19.7%

Living in Peoria costs 19.7% less than Cincinnati. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cincinnati, you would need $62,637 in Peoria.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
76
Cincinnati
42
Peoria
Groceries
99
Cincinnati
97
Peoria
Utilities
93
Cincinnati
103
Peoria
Transportation
101
Cincinnati
108
Peoria
Healthcare
96
Cincinnati
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has the same purchasing power as $62,637 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $89,803 in Cincinnati.

Living in Cincinnati vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Cincinnati's housing index of 76 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $164,000. The $31,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,016 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cincinnati compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cincinnati and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cincinnati vs $461/month in Peoria. 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 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Cincinnati vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cincinnati and 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,355 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In Cincinnati, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 34 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 19.7% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $62,637 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Cincinnati's housing index is 76 with median homes at $195,000, while Peoria's is 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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