City Comparison

Cleveland vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cleveland

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

Sugar Land

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

The Verdict

20.9%

Living in Cleveland costs 20.9% less than Sugar Land. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $94,828 in Sugar Land.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Cleveland
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
99
Cleveland
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
96
Cleveland
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
101
Cleveland
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
96
Cleveland
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has the same purchasing power as $94,828 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $59,318 in Cleveland.

Living in Cleveland vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Cleveland's housing index of 59 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $100,000 vs $456,000. The $356,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,136 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Cleveland compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $725.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cleveland 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 $32,053 in Cleveland and $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $36,843 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 $748/month to housing in Cleveland vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Cleveland, median rent of $900/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 69 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cleveland is 20.9% more affordable overall with an index of 87 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $94,828 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Cleveland's housing index is 59 with median homes at $100,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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