City Comparison

Cleveland vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cleveland

Ohio
87
Below Average
$100,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$32,053
Median Income

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

23.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 23.0%, with Cleveland being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cleveland has equivalent purchasing power to $97,414 in Roswell.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Cleveland
187
Roswell
Groceries
99
Cleveland
101
Roswell
Utilities
96
Cleveland
98
Roswell
Transportation
101
Cleveland
110
Roswell
Healthcare
96
Cleveland
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has the same purchasing power as $97,414 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $57,743 in Cleveland.

Living in Cleveland vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Cleveland's housing index of 59 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $100,000 vs $647,000. The $547,000 difference in home prices means roughly $35,556 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Cleveland compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $800.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cleveland and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cleveland vs $480/month in Roswell. 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 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Cleveland vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cleveland and 103 in Roswell. 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 $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $36,843 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell 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 $2,539/month in Roswell. In Cleveland, median rent of $900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 128 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cleveland is 23.0% more affordable overall with an index of 87 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $97,414 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Cleveland's housing index is 59 with median homes at $100,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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