Median rent is 41% lower in Cleveland ($945/mo vs $1,612/mo). Buying is cheaper in Cleveland, where the median home runs $102,000 versus $385,700. Households earn more in Charlotte ($82,068 vs $40,801 a year).
City A
Charlotte, NC
City B
Cleveland, OH
How much would you need to earn in Cleveland, OH to maintain your standard of living from Charlotte, NC?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Charlotte
North Carolina
Cleveland
Ohio
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Cleveland — median rent of $945/mo versus $1,612/mo in Charlotte, a 41% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Charlotte: the median home is $385,700 versus $102,000 in Cleveland — 74% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Charlotte
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Cleveland
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Charlotte (avg AQI 55.0) but not yet for Cleveland.
Pick Charlotte if you prioritize higher median household income ($82,068/yr).
Pick Cleveland if you prioritize cheaper rent ($945/mo median).
Is Charlotte cheaper than Cleveland?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Charlotte vs Cleveland?
Median rent is $1,612/mo in Charlotte, NC and $945/mo in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland, OH has the lower rent by about 41%.
Which has higher salaries — Charlotte or Cleveland?
Median household income is $82,068 in Charlotte, NC and $40,801 in Cleveland, OH. Charlotte, NC has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Charlotte or Cleveland?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Cleveland to match my Charlotte income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
