City Comparison

Cincinnati vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cincinnati

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

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

17.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 17.3%, with Cincinnati being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cincinnati has equivalent purchasing power to $90,659 in Sugar Land.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
76
Cincinnati
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
99
Cincinnati
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
93
Cincinnati
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
101
Cincinnati
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
96
Cincinnati
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has the same purchasing power as $90,659 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $62,045 in Cincinnati.

Living in Cincinnati vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Cincinnati's housing index of 76 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $456,000. The $261,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,968 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cincinnati compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cincinnati and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cincinnati vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Cincinnati vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cincinnati and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,355 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land 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 $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Cincinnati, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 52 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cincinnati is 17.3% more affordable overall with an index of 91 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $90,659 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Cincinnati's housing index is 76 with median homes at $195,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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