Route comparison
Columbus, OH vs Cincinnati, OH: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Columbus, OH and Cincinnati, OH. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Columbus, OH
OH
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 94
- Housing RPP
- 87.6
- Goods RPP
- 92.1
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,302/mo
Ohio income tax 0%-3.75%. Columbus city income tax 2.5%.
Cincinnati, OH
OH
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 93.5
- Housing RPP
- 83.7
- Goods RPP
- 92.4
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,195/mo
Ohio income tax 0%-3.75%. Cincinnati city income tax 1.8%.
Equivalent salary
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper than Columbus, OH by about 0.5% (RPP 94 to 93.5).
$60,000 in Columbus, OH
-> $59,681
in Cincinnati, OH
$100,000 in Columbus, OH
-> $99,468
in Cincinnati, OH
$150,000 in Columbus, OH
-> $149,202
in Cincinnati, OH
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
Migration signal: Columbus, OH vs Cincinnati, OH
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Columbus, OH
- Net people
- −2,961
- Net rank
- #39 of 65
- Top origin share
- 2%
- Top destination share
- 1%
Largest source: Cuyahoga County, OH. Largest destination: Cuyahoga County, OH.
Cincinnati, OH
- Net people
- −104
- Net rank
- #33 of 65
- Top origin share
- 4%
- Top destination share
- 4%
Largest source: Montgomery County, OH. Largest destination: Montgomery County, OH.
Rent delta: Cincinnati, OH is $107/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Columbus, OH. Housing RPP moves from 87.6 to 83.7.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cincinnati, OH cheaper or more expensive than Columbus, OH?
- Cincinnati, OH (RPP 93.5) is cheaper than Columbus, OH (RPP 94) by about 0.5%.
- What salary do I need in Cincinnati, OH if I earn $100,000 in Columbus, OH?
- You would need approximately $99,468 in Cincinnati, OH to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Columbus, OH. Formula: $100,000 x (93.5 / 94).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Columbus, OH or Cincinnati, OH?
- For 2021-2022, Columbus, OH had a net loss of 2,961 people, while Cincinnati, OH had a net loss of 104 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.