Cincinnati vs Surprise
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cincinnati
Surprise
The Verdict
Cincinnati is 11.7% less expensive than Surprise overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cincinnati would need approximately $84,890 in Surprise 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 $84,890 in Surprise.
Conversely, $75,000 in Surprise equals $66,262 in Cincinnati.
Living in Cincinnati vs Surprise
Housing Costs
Cincinnati's housing index of 76 is lower Surprise's 105, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $419,000. The $224,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,556 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cincinnati compared to $1,575/mo in Surprise, a monthly difference of $475.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cincinnati and 100 in Surprise. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cincinnati vs $475/month in Surprise. 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 102 in Surprise. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Cincinnati vs $408 in Surprise. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cincinnati and 97 in Surprise. 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 $85,500 in Surprise. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,355 and $83,010 respectively. Surprise 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 $1,995/month in Surprise. In Cincinnati, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Surprise, median rent of $1,575/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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