Cost of Living in Ohio: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025

What is the cost of living in Ohio? doxo breaks down key insights about Ohio’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Ohio pays $1,668 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Ohio’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Ohio ranks as the 37th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Ohio is ranked as the 37th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
At $20,016 per year, Ohio’s household expenses, on average, are 19% lower than the US median of $24,695.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Ohio households spend 27% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for Ohio is 81.
- Median Bill Cost per Household: $1,668 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 81
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #37
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 27%
- Compared to the National Median: 19% lower
Ohio Household Expenses are 19% Lower Than the National Median
The average Ohio household pays $1,668 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Ohio is $66, compared to the national median of $74, making it 11% lower than the national median.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Ohio residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,295, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 27% less expensive.
Median Ohio Household Bill Spending
Bill Category | Median Ohio Monthly Bill | National Median Monthly Bill | Ohio Percent +/- National Median ($2,126) |
Mortgage | $1,295 | $1,775 | 27% lower |
Rent | $1,017 | $1,453 | 30% lower |
Auto Loan | $400 | $470 | 15% lower |
Auto Insurance | $115 | $105 | 15% lower |
Health Insurance | $90 | $72 | 25% higher |
Mobile Phone | $94 | $96 | 2% lower |
Cable & Internet | $103 | $121 | 15% lower |
Life Insurance | $57 | $60 | 5% lower |
Alarm & Security | $66 | $74 | 11% lower |
Total | $1,688 | $2,065 | 19% lower |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Jacksontown has the highest cost of living in Ohio for household bills
Residents of Jacksontown pay the highest household bills in the state of Ohio, at a median of $3,685 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Jacksontown is 178, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 78% higher than the national median.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Jacksontown make up 21% of the median annual household income of $209,861.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
5 Most Expensive Ohio Cities for Household Bills
Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
1 | Jacksontown | $209,861 | $3,685 | 178 | 78% higher | 21% |
2 | Terrace Park | $205,795 | $3,508 | 170 | 70% higher | 20% |
3 | Galena | $160,120 | $2,834 | 137 | 37% higher | 21% |
4 | New Albany | $139,679 | $2,738 | 133 | 33% higher | 24% |
5 | Lewis Center | $148,446 | $2,690 | 130 | 30% higher | 22% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Glencoe has the lowest cost of living in Ohio for household bills
Glencoe is the most affordable place in Ohio, with residents paying $735 on average for household bills, accounting for 7% of annual income of $118,317. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Glencoe is 36, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 64% below the national median.
Bannock is the second most affordable city in Ohio, with residents paying $735 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in Ohio are Coal Run ($816), Wingett Run ($816) and Moxahala ($825).
5 Most Affordable Ohio Cities for Household Bills
Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
1 | Glencoe | $118,317 | $735 | 36 | 64% lower | 8% |
2 | Bannock | $29,009 | $735 | 36 | 64% lower | 30% |
3 | Coal Run | $46,793 | $816 | 39 | 61% lower | 21% |
4 | Wingett Run | $75,268 | $816 | 39 | 61% lower | 13% |
5 | Moxahala | $65,714 | $825 | 40 | 60% lower | 15% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Ohio with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.