Cleveland vs New Bedford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cleveland
New Bedford
The Verdict
Cleveland is 22.3% less expensive than New Bedford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cleveland would need approximately $96,552 in New Bedford 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 $96,552 in New Bedford.
Conversely, $75,000 in New Bedford equals $58,259 in Cleveland.
Living in Cleveland vs New Bedford
Housing Costs
Cleveland's housing index of 59 is lower New Bedford's 116, translating to median home prices of $100,000 vs $371,000. The $271,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,616 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Cleveland compared to $1,225/mo in New Bedford, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cleveland and 104 in New Bedford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cleveland vs $494/month in New Bedford. 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 96 in Cleveland and 145 in New Bedford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Cleveland vs $580 in New Bedford. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cleveland and 118 in New Bedford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $32,053 in Cleveland and $57,000 in New Bedford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $36,843 and $50,893 respectively. New Bedford 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 $1,330/month in New Bedford. In Cleveland, median rent of $900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In New Bedford, median rent of $1,225/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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