City Comparison

Cincinnati vs Rio Rancho

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cincinnati

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

Rio Rancho

New Mexico
95
Below Average
$337,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$85,800
Median Income

The Verdict

4.2%

Living in Cincinnati costs 4.2% less than Rio Rancho. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cincinnati, you would need $78,297 in Rio Rancho.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
76
Cincinnati
91
Rio Rancho
Groceries
99
Cincinnati
97
Rio Rancho
Utilities
93
Cincinnati
84
Rio Rancho
Transportation
101
Cincinnati
92
Rio Rancho
Healthcare
96
Cincinnati
99
Rio Rancho

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has the same purchasing power as $78,297 in Rio Rancho.

Conversely, $75,000 in Rio Rancho equals $71,842 in Cincinnati.

Living in Cincinnati vs Rio Rancho

Housing Costs

Cincinnati's housing index of 76 is lower Rio Rancho's 91, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $337,000. The $142,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,228 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cincinnati compared to $1,400/mo in Rio Rancho, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cincinnati and 97 in Rio Rancho. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cincinnati vs $461/month in Rio Rancho. 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 84 in Rio Rancho. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Cincinnati vs $336 in Rio Rancho. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cincinnati and 99 in Rio Rancho. 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 $85,800 in Rio Rancho. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,355 and $90,316 respectively. Rio Rancho 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 $2,002/month in Rio Rancho. In Cincinnati, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Rio Rancho, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cincinnati is 4.2% more affordable overall with an index of 91 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $78,297 in Rio Rancho, based on the cost of living difference.
Cincinnati's housing index is 76 with median homes at $195,000, while Rio Rancho's is 91 with median homes at $337,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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