Cleveland vs Youngstown
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cleveland
Youngstown
The Verdict
Living in Youngstown costs 6.1% less than Cleveland. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $70,690 in Youngstown.
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 $70,690 in Youngstown.
Conversely, $75,000 in Youngstown equals $79,573 in Cleveland.
Living in Cleveland vs Youngstown
Housing Costs
Cleveland's housing index of 59 is higher Youngstown's 41, translating to median home prices of $100,000 vs $102,000. The $2,000 difference in home prices means roughly $132 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Cleveland compared to $725/mo in Youngstown, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cleveland and 98 in Youngstown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cleveland vs $466/month in Youngstown. 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 Youngstown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Cleveland vs $384 in Youngstown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cleveland and 90 in Youngstown. 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 $34,600 in Youngstown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $36,843 and $42,195 respectively. Youngstown 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 $807/month in Youngstown. In Cleveland, median rent of $900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Youngstown, median rent of $725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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