Cleveland, OH Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Cleveland, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Cleveland →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Cleveland's population is about 370,365. On income, the typical household clears $37,271 a year, running below the median household income across the cities we cover (-48%).
Expect a median home value of $87,400 in Cleveland, which runs below what we see across other cities (-73%). Median rent lands at $851/month — a useful baseline before comparing mortgage payments to rent.
At roughly 2.3 times median household income, home values in Cleveland are on the affordable end compared to the cities we cover. Home prices near Cleveland have risen a steady 5.73% over the past year — measured growth, not a spike. Natural-hazard exposure in Cleveland is rated Relatively High by FEMA, on the elevated end — something to check with insurers before buying.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $851/mo in Cleveland would take 27.4% of your income.
$81/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($87,400) would take 15.0% of your income toward principal & interest.
$403/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Cleveland
Median home value is $87,400 and median gross rent is $851/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Cuyahoga rose 5.73% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,279/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Cleveland's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Cleveland reported a violent crime rate of 1366.7 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Cleveland
Planning a move to Cleveland? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Cleveland, OH?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Cleveland's median home value at $87,400, median rent at $851/month, and median household income at $37,271.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cleveland?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Cleveland, where median rent runs $851/month, you'd want to earn about $34,040 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Cleveland.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Cleveland?
- Buying at Cleveland's median home value of $87,400 takes about $19,997 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $34,040 a year to comfortably rent at the median $851/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Cleveland safe?
- FBI data puts Cleveland's violent crime rate at 1366.7 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Cleveland →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Cleveland's.