Akron vs. Cleveland: Which Ohio city is easier on your wallet?

Akron, OH, offers renters a more affordable alternative to Cleveland. As of late October 2026, the average rent in Akron is $1,148 per month, compared with $1,580 in Cleveland. Overall living costs are also lower in Akron, coming in 15% below the national average, while Cleveland sits 7% below.

Just 40 miles apart, Akron and Cleveland offer two different takes on Northeast Ohio living. Cleveland brings a bigger job market, Lake Erie attractions and major league sports, while Akron offers a slower pace and easy access to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. And the difference in housing costs is hard to ignore: A two-bedroom apartment in Akron averages $1,193 per month — just $7 more than a studio in Cleveland ($1,186).

Of course, more affordable rental apartments don’t always mean lower living costs across the board. You might save hundreds on housing in one city but spend a little more on groceries or gas. Below, we break down the cost of living in Akron vs. Cleveland category by category to help you see where your money could go further.

Overall cost of living by city: Akron vs. Cleveland

Akron’s cost of living is 15% below the national average and 8% below the Ohio average. The cost of living in Cleveland is 7% below the national average and 1% above the Ohio average.

Both cities are easier on your wallet than the typical U.S. city, but Akron comes out ahead by about 8 percentage points.

Akron vs. Cleveland: Category-by-category cost of living comparison

From housing and utilities to groceries and transportation, here’s how Akron and Cleveland compare on everyday costs:

Average rent and housing

Housing is where the two cities differ the most. As of late October 2026, the average rent in Cleveland is $1,580 per month, compared with the $1,148 average rent in Akron. That’s a gap of $432 every month, or $5,184 over a year.

For comparison, the U.S. average rent is $1,775. Akron is about 35% below that, and Cleveland is about 11% below it. The difference shows up in every apartment type:

• Studio: $1,186 in Cleveland vs. $832 in Akron
• One-bedroom: $1,459 in Cleveland vs. $936 in Akron
• Two-bedroom: $1,846 in Cleveland vs. $1,193 in Akron
• Three-bedroom: $2,765 in Cleveland vs. $1,434 in Akron

The biggest gap is for three-bedroom apartments, which cost nearly twice as much in Cleveland. That could matter a lot if you’re renting with family or sharing an apartment with roommates.

Home prices follow a similar pattern. The average home costs $396,776 in Cleveland and $285,547 in Akron, a gap of about 28%. That’s close to the 27% rent gap, so Akron’s edge holds for both renters and buyers.

Utilities

Utilities are another area where Akron saves you money. Energy bills average about $154 per month in Akron and $188 in Cleveland. That makes Cleveland’s energy bill roughly 22% higher, or about $408 more over a year.

Phone service is basically a tie. The average bill is $190.45 in Akron and $191.69 in Cleveland, a difference of just over $1. Put together, Akron renters pay about $35 less per month on these two bills.

Groceries and dining

Grocery prices are close in Akron and Cleveland, and each city has its cheaper items:

• Eggs (dozen): $6.00 in Akron vs. $5.01 in Cleveland
• Coffee (13 oz): $8.01 in Akron vs. $6.24 in Cleveland
• Bread (loaf): $5.29 in Akron vs. $4.34 in Cleveland
• Milk (1 gallon): $4.42 in Akron vs. $4.67 in Cleveland
• Lettuce (head): $1.33 in Akron vs. $2.06 in Cleveland

Cleveland is cheaper on eggs, coffee and bread. Akron is cheaper on milk, lettuce and meat, including steak at $16.02 per pound vs. $16.98. Across all 21 grocery items in our data, the total comes to about $105.71 in Akron and $100.63 in Cleveland. That’s about $5 more per grocery run in Akron, which is small next to the $432 monthly rent gap.

Eating out costs about the same in both cities. A pizza costs $11.41 in Akron and $11.89 in Cleveland, while a fast-food hamburger runs $6.70 in Akron vs. $6.03 in Cleveland.

Transportation

Transportation costs are a little lower in Cleveland. For example, a gallon of gas averages $3.10 there, compared with $3.20 in Akron. On a 15-gallon fill-up, that’s a difference of about $1.50.

Car maintenance shows a bigger gap. A tire balance costs $49.95 in Cleveland and $61.45 in Akron, so Akron drivers pay about 23% more. Still, your commute and how often you drive will likely matter more to your budget than these prices.

Entertainment

Going out costs a bit less in Akron. A movie ticket, for example, averages $10.73 there, compared with $12.74 in Cleveland, a difference of about $2. A yoga class runs $18.27 in Akron and $19.00 in Cleveland.

Health care

Most health care costs are lower in Akron. A doctor’s visit averages about $123 there, compared with $130 in Cleveland. A dentist visit costs about $113 in Akron vs. $127 in Cleveland.

Prescription drug prices show the biggest gap, averaging $16.78 in Akron and $34.76 in Cleveland, more than twice as much. Cleveland wins on eye care, though, with an optometrist visit costing about $109 vs. $127 in Akron. If you fill prescriptions regularly, Akron’s lower prices can add up over a year.

The verdict: Which city is right for you?

Akron is the more affordable option overall, largely because rent is much lower. A renter moving from Cleveland to Akron could spend about $432 less per month on average rent alone, plus about $35 less on energy and phone bills combined. Movie tickets, doctor visits and prescriptions also cost less in Akron.

Still, Akron doesn’t win every category. Cleveland has slightly lower grocery costs, especially for eggs, coffee and bread. Gas, car maintenance and eye exams also cost a bit less there.

Use this cost-of-living comparison as a starting point in your apartment search. Then plug your own numbers into RentCafe’s Cost of Living Calculator and Rent Affordability Calculator to see what fits your income and lifestyle.

Ready to make your move? Browse thousands of apartment listings on RentCafe.com to find your next home in Akron. And if you’re staying in Cleveland but want to see what else is out there, explore the latest apartments for rent in Cleveland and compare your options.

FAQ

Methodology

This cost of living comparison uses publicly available economic data and proprietary rental market figures. Here’s where the numbers come from and what to keep in mind.

Data sources

Consumer goods, services and home prices come from the Cost of Living Index, published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) published in February 2026.

Average rent data comes from Yardi Matrix, our proprietary data source, where available. For locations not covered by Yardi Matrix, C2ER rent data was used. Rents represent average advertised rent per apartment, not concessions-adjusted effective rent, unless otherwise noted.

How the overall cost of living is calculated

The overall estimate for each city combines six spending categories: housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, health care and miscellaneous goods and services. Each category is weighted based on national spending averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey. Housing carries the most weight because it’s the largest share of household spending.

Results are shown as a percentage above or below the national average, so it’s easy to compare two cities side by side.

Limitations

• All figures are city-level averages and don’t capture neighborhood-by-neighborhood differences.
• Category weights reflect typical U.S. household spending. Your personal budget may look different.
• Publication schedules vary across data sources, so not all figures reflect the exact same time period.
• The analysis assumes a standard household. Individual experiences may vary.