City Comparison

Odessa vs Youngstown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Odessa

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$223,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$73,500
Median Income

Youngstown

Ohio
82
Very Affordable
$102,000
Median Home
$725/mo
Median Rent
$34,600
Median Income

The Verdict

3.7%

Youngstown is 3.7% less expensive than Odessa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Odessa would need approximately $72,353 in Youngstown to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
72
Odessa
41
Youngstown
Groceries
96
Odessa
98
Youngstown
Utilities
100
Odessa
96
Youngstown
Transportation
93
Odessa
101
Youngstown
Healthcare
96
Odessa
90
Youngstown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Odessa has the same purchasing power as $72,353 in Youngstown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Youngstown equals $77,744 in Odessa.

Living in Odessa vs Youngstown

Housing Costs

Odessa's housing index of 72 is higher Youngstown's 41, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $102,000. The $121,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,860 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $725/mo in Youngstown, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 98 in Youngstown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa 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 100 in Odessa and 96 in Youngstown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $384 in Youngstown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa 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 $73,500 in Odessa and $34,600 in Youngstown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $42,195 respectively. Odessa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,715/month to housing in Odessa vs $807/month in Youngstown. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo fits within this budget. In Youngstown, median rent of $725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Youngstown is 3.7% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Odessa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,353 in Youngstown, based on the cost of living difference.
Odessa's housing index is 72 with median homes at $223,000, while Youngstown's is 41 with median homes at $102,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases