CostIndexUSA

Cleveland, OH vs Lexington, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Lexington is slightly cheaper than Cleveland — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $79,200 in Lexington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing2.9%
Cleveland
79.4
Lexington
77.1
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Cleveland
93.6
Lexington
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Cleveland
103.9
Lexington
101.7
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Cleveland
94
Lexington
92
Utilities22.3%
Cleveland
96
Lexington
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Cleveland to see what you'd need to earn in Lexington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Lexington, KY
$79,200
$800 less needed in Lexington

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 93.9) = salary × 0.9894. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cleveland, OH

Median Home Price
$236,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.0×

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Cleveland has 2.9% lower housing costs compared to Lexington.

Income & Job Market

Cleveland, OH

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
372,624
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceTechnologyEducation

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Cleveland, OH
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.