City Comparison

Cleveland vs Surprise

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cleveland

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

Surprise

Arizona
103
Average
$419,000
Median Home
$1,575/mo
Median Rent
$85,500
Median Income

The Verdict

15.5%

Living in Cleveland costs 15.5% less than Surprise. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $88,793 in Surprise.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Cleveland
105
Surprise
Groceries
99
Cleveland
100
Surprise
Utilities
96
Cleveland
102
Surprise
Transportation
101
Cleveland
106
Surprise
Healthcare
96
Cleveland
97
Surprise

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has the same purchasing power as $88,793 in Surprise.

Conversely, $75,000 in Surprise equals $63,350 in Cleveland.

Living in Cleveland vs Surprise

Housing Costs

Cleveland's housing index of 59 is lower Surprise's 105, translating to median home prices of $100,000 vs $419,000. The $319,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,736 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Cleveland compared to $1,575/mo in Surprise, a monthly difference of $675.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cleveland and 100 in Surprise. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cleveland 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 96 in Cleveland and 102 in Surprise. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Cleveland vs $408 in Surprise. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cleveland 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 $32,053 in Cleveland and $85,500 in Surprise. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $36,843 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 $748/month to housing in Cleveland vs $1,995/month in Surprise. In Cleveland, median rent of $900/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 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cleveland is 15.5% more affordable overall with an index of 87 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $88,793 in Surprise, based on the cost of living difference.
Cleveland's housing index is 59 with median homes at $100,000, while Surprise's is 105 with median homes at $419,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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