Cleveland vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cleveland
Medford
The Verdict
Cleveland is 17.9% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cleveland would need approximately $91,379 in Medford 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 Cleveland has the same purchasing power as $91,379 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $61,557 in Cleveland.
Living in Cleveland vs Medford
Housing Costs
Cleveland's housing index of 59 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $100,000 vs $406,000. The $306,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,896 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Cleveland compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $475.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cleveland and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cleveland vs $513/month in Medford. Cleveland offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Cleveland and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Cleveland vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cleveland 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 $32,053 in Cleveland and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $36,843 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 $748/month to housing in Cleveland vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Cleveland, median rent of $900/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 80 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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