{"id":151680,"date":"2026-11-09T03:11:56","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T11:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=151680"},"modified":"2026-11-09T03:22:50","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T11:22:50","slug":"akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/","title":{"rendered":"Akron vs. Cleveland: Which Ohio city is easier on your wallet?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/apartments-for-rent\/akron-oh\/\">Akron, OH<\/a>, offers renters a more affordable alternative to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/apartments-for-rent\/cleveland-oh\/\">Cleveland<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cmw-key-takeaways\">\r\n\t\t<p class=\"cmw-key-takeaways__title\"><strong>Key takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\t\t<ul class=\"cmw-key-takeaways__list\"><li>Rent is significantly higher in Cleveland. As of late October 2026, the average rent is $1,580 per month, about 38% more than Akron\u2019s $1,148.<\/li><li>Akron has a lower overall cost of living. Living expenses are 15% below the national average in Akron, compared with 7% below in Cleveland.<\/li><li>Everyday expenses tell a mixed story. Akron is cheaper for rent, energy and most health care costs, while groceries, gas and eye exams tend to cost a little less in Cleveland.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.centerforcleveland.org\/sports-teams-and-major-sporting-events\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">major league sports<\/a>, 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 \u2014 just $7 more than a studio in Cleveland ($1,186).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, more affordable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/\">rental apartments<\/a> don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-overall-cost-of-living-by-city-akron-vs-cleveland\">Overall cost of living by city: Akron vs. Cleveland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/cost-of-living-calculator\/us\/oh\/akron\/\">Akron\u2019s cost of living<\/a> is 15% below the national average and 8% below the Ohio average. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/cost-of-living-calculator\/us\/oh\/cleveland\/\">cost of living in Cleveland<\/a> is 7% below the national average and 1% above the Ohio average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both cities are easier on your wallet than the typical U.S. city, but Akron comes out ahead by about 8 percentage points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-akron-vs-cleveland-category-by-category-cost-of-living-comparison\">Akron vs. Cleveland: Category-by-category cost of living comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From housing and utilities to groceries and transportation, here\u2019s how Akron and Cleveland compare on everyday costs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison\" data-embed-id=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison\" style=\"font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Oxygen,Ubuntu,sans-serif; max-width:900px; margin:2rem auto;\">\n\n  <!-- BUTTONS -->\n  <div class=\"comparison-tabs\">\n    <button type=\"button\" data-section=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-overall\" class=\"tab-btn\">Overall<\/button>\n    <button type=\"button\" data-section=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-housing\" class=\"tab-btn active-btn\">Housing &amp; Rent<\/button>\n    <button type=\"button\" data-section=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-utilities\" class=\"tab-btn\">Utilities<\/button>\n    <button type=\"button\" data-section=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-groceries\" class=\"tab-btn\">Groceries &amp; Food<\/button>\n    <button type=\"button\" data-section=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-transport\" class=\"tab-btn\">Transportation<\/button>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"cost-card\">\n    <table class=\"comparison-table\">\n      <thead>\n        <tr>\n          <th>Category<\/th>\n          <th>Akron, OH<\/th>\n          <th>Cleveland, OH<\/th>\n        <\/tr>\n      <\/thead>\n\n      <tbody id=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-overall\" class=\"tab-section\">\n        <tr><td>Overall cost vs national average<\/td><td>-15.0%<\/td><td>-7.0%<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n\n      <tbody id=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-housing\" class=\"tab-section active-section\">\n        <tr><td>Average rent<\/td><td>$1,148\/mo<\/td><td>$1,580\/mo<\/td><\/tr>\n\n        <tr><td>1-bedroom<\/td><td>$936\/mo<\/td><td>$1,459\/mo<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>2-bedroom<\/td><td>$1,193\/mo<\/td><td>$1,846\/mo<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>3-bedroom<\/td><td>$1,434\/mo<\/td><td>$2,765\/mo<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Average home price<\/td><td>$285,547<\/td><td>$396,776<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n\n      <tbody id=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-utilities\" class=\"tab-section\">\n        <tr><td>Energy<\/td><td>$154.15\/mo<\/td><td>$188.39\/mo<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Phone<\/td><td>$190.45\/mo<\/td><td>$191.69\/mo<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n\n      <tbody id=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-groceries\" class=\"tab-section\">\n        <tr><td>Milk (1 gallon)<\/td><td>$4.42<\/td><td>$4.67<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Bread (1 loaf)<\/td><td>$5.29<\/td><td>$4.34<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Eggs (1 dozen)<\/td><td>$6.00<\/td><td>$5.01<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Bananas (1 lb)<\/td><td>$0.74<\/td><td>$0.77<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Fried chicken<\/td><td>$1.31<\/td><td>$1.53<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Coffee<\/td><td>$8.01<\/td><td>$6.24<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Ground beef (1 lb)<\/td><td>$7.58<\/td><td>$7.64<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n\n      <tbody id=\"akron-oh-cleveland-oh-cost-comparison-transport\" class=\"tab-section\">\n        <tr><td>Tire Balance<\/td><td>$61.45<\/td><td>$49.95<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Gasoline (gal)<\/td><td>$3.20<\/td><td>$3.10<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n    <\/table>\n\n    <div class=\"comparison-footer\">\n      <div class=\"footer-right\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n          <img 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where the two cities differ the most. As of late October 2026, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/average-rent-market-trends\/us\/oh\/cleveland\/\">average rent in Cleveland<\/a> is $1,580 per month, compared with the $1,148 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/average-rent-market-trends\/us\/oh\/akron\/\">average rent in Akron<\/a>. That\u2019s a gap of $432 every month, or $5,184 over a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For comparison, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/average-rent-market-trends\/us\/\">U.S. average rent<\/a> is $1,775. Akron is about 35% below that, and Cleveland is about 11% below it. The difference shows up in every apartment type:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Studio: $1,186 in Cleveland vs. $832 in Akron<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One-bedroom: $1,459 in Cleveland vs. $936 in Akron<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two-bedroom: $1,846 in Cleveland vs. $1,193 in Akron<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three-bedroom: $2,765 in Cleveland vs. $1,434 in Akron<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest gap is for three-bedroom apartments, which cost nearly twice as much in Cleveland. That could matter a lot if you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/renting\/renting-with-kids\/\">renting with family<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/budgeting\/how-to-split-rent-fairly\/\">sharing an apartment with roommates<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s close to the 27% rent gap, so Akron\u2019s edge holds for both renters and buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-utilities\">Utilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/apartment-search-2\/money\/apartment-utilities-breakdown\/\">Utilities<\/a> are another area where Akron saves you money. Energy bills average about $154 per month in Akron and $188 in Cleveland. That makes Cleveland\u2019s energy bill roughly 22% higher, or about $408 more over a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-groceries-and-dining\">Groceries and dining<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Grocery prices are close in Akron and Cleveland, and each city has its cheaper items:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Eggs (dozen): $6.00 in Akron vs. $5.01 in Cleveland<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coffee (13 oz): $8.01 in Akron vs. $6.24 in Cleveland<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bread (loaf): $5.29 in Akron vs. $4.34 in Cleveland<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Milk (1 gallon): $4.42 in Akron vs. $4.67 in Cleveland<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lettuce (head): $1.33 in Akron vs. $2.06 in Cleveland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s about $5 more per grocery run in Akron, which is small next to the $432 monthly rent gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-transportation\">Transportation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s a difference of about $1.50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/cleveland\/2025\/11\/04\/traffice-delays-congestion-data-report-2024-ohio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">commute<\/a> and how often you drive will likely matter more to your budget than these prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-entertainment\">Entertainment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-health-care\">Health care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most health care costs are lower in Akron. A doctor\u2019s visit averages about $123 there, compared with $130 in Cleveland. A dentist visit costs about $113 in Akron vs. $127 in Cleveland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s lower prices can add up over a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-verdict-which-city-is-right-for-you\">The verdict: Which city is right for you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Akron is the more affordable option overall, largely because rent is much lower. A renter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/renting\/moving-cities-how-to-hunt-apartments-from-afar\/\">moving<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, Akron doesn\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use this cost-of-living comparison as a starting point in your apartment search. Then plug your own numbers into RentCafe&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/cost-of-living-calculator\/\">Cost of Living Calculator<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/rent-affordability-calculator\/\">Rent Affordability Calculator<\/a> to see what fits your income and lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ready to make your move? Browse thousands of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/\">apartment listings on RentCafe.com<\/a> to find your next home in Akron. And if you\u2019re staying in Cleveland but want to see what else is out there, explore the latest apartments for rent in Cleveland and compare your options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading custom-faq-title\" id=\"h-faq\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1793874937212\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Q: How much could I save in a year by moving from Cleveland to Akron?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A: Based on average rent, you could save about $5,184 a year on housing, plus about $423 on energy and phone bills. That adds up to roughly $5,600 a year before other everyday costs.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1793874951862\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Q: Will higher grocery prices in Akron cancel out the rent savings?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A: No. Groceries cost about $5 more per shopping trip in Akron, or roughly $22 a month if you shop weekly, compared with $432 a month in average rent savings.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1793874966928\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Q: Does anything cost more in Akron than in Cleveland?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A: Yes. Some groceries like eggs, coffee and bread cost more in Akron, as do gas, tire balancing and eye exams.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1793874990259\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Q: I need a three-bedroom apartment for my family. How much cheaper is Akron?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A: A three-bedroom averages $1,434 a month in Akron vs. $2,765 in Cleveland. That\u2019s about $1,331 less every month, or nearly $16,000 over a year.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1793875009155\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Q: How do I figure out how much rent I can afford in either city?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A: Start with RentCafe&#8217;s Rent Affordability Calculator to find a budget that fits your income. Then use the Cost of Living Calculator to compare everyday expenses between Akron and Cleveland.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-methodology\">Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This cost of living comparison uses publicly available economic data and proprietary rental market figures. Here\u2019s where the numbers come from and what to keep in mind.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-data-sources\"><strong>Data sources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Consumer goods, services and home prices come from the <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coli.org\/\"><em>Cost of Living Index<\/em><\/a><em>, published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) published in February 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Average rent data comes from <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardimatrix.com\/\"><em>Yardi Matrix<\/em><\/a><em>, 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-the-overall-cost-of-living-is-calculated\"><strong>How the overall cost of living is calculated<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>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\u2019 Consumer Expenditure Survey. Housing carries the most weight because it\u2019s the largest share of household spending.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Results are shown as a percentage above or below the national average, so it\u2019s easy to compare two cities side by side.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-limitations\"><strong>Limitations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>All figures are city-level averages and don\u2019t capture neighborhood-by-neighborhood differences.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Category weights reflect typical U.S. household spending. Your personal budget may look different.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Publication schedules vary across data sources, so not all figures reflect the exact same time period.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The analysis assumes a standard household. Individual experiences may vary.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":757,"featured_media":151683,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[38986],"class_list":["post-151680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-resources","tag-cost-of-living","gallery-content-unit"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Akron vs. Cleveland: Cost of living comparison for renters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Two Ohio cities, two different renter budgets. 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This Akron vs. Cleveland cost of living comparison shows where you save and where you pay more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RentCafe rental blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-11-09T11:11:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-11-09T11:22:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/11\/Akron-OH-vs.-Cleveland-OH.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Veronica Grecu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Veronica Grecu\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Veronica Grecu\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/159949bd3f979917cc7bf081d749b862\"},\"headline\":\"Akron vs. Cleveland: Which Ohio city is easier on your wallet?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-09T11:11:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-09T11:22:50+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1487,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/62\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/Akron-OH-vs.-Cleveland-OH.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Cost of living\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Local Resources\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/\",\"name\":\"Akron vs. Cleveland: Cost of living comparison for renters\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/62\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/Akron-OH-vs.-Cleveland-OH.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-09T11:11:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-09T11:22:50+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/159949bd3f979917cc7bf081d749b862\"},\"description\":\"Two Ohio cities, two different renter budgets. 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With more than 15 years of experience in the real estate industry, she covers a variety of topics in the apartment market, including rental competitiveness, new construction and other industry trends. Her work has been featured in top publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Miami Herald, CNN, CNBC, and more. Prior to RentCafe, Veronica was involved in producing real estate content for Multi-Housing News, Commercial Property Executive and Yardi Matrix. She holds a B.A. in Applied Modern Languages and an M.A. in Advertising and PR.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/veronicagrecu\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#faq-question-1793874937212\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#faq-question-1793874937212\",\"name\":\"Q: How much could I save in a year by moving from Cleveland to Akron?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A: Based on average rent, you could save about $5,184 a year on housing, plus about $423 on energy and phone bills. 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Some groceries like eggs, coffee and bread cost more in Akron, as do gas, tire balancing and eye exams.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#faq-question-1793874990259\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#faq-question-1793874990259\",\"name\":\"Q: I need a three-bedroom apartment for my family. How much cheaper is Akron?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A: A three-bedroom averages $1,434 a month in Akron vs. $2,765 in Cleveland. That\u2019s about $1,331 less every month, or nearly $16,000 over a year.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#faq-question-1793875009155\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rentcafe.com\\\/blog\\\/local-resources\\\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\\\/#faq-question-1793875009155\",\"name\":\"Q: How do I figure out how much rent I can afford in either city?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A: Start with RentCafe's Rent Affordability Calculator to find a budget that fits your income. 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With more than 15 years of experience in the real estate industry, she covers a variety of topics in the apartment market, including rental competitiveness, new construction and other industry trends. Her work has been featured in top publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Miami Herald, CNN, CNBC, and more. Prior to RentCafe, Veronica was involved in producing real estate content for Multi-Housing News, Commercial Property Executive and Yardi Matrix. She holds a B.A. in Applied Modern Languages and an M.A. in Advertising and PR.","url":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/author\/veronicagrecu\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793874937212","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793874937212","name":"Q: How much could I save in a year by moving from Cleveland to Akron?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A: Based on average rent, you could save about $5,184 a year on housing, plus about $423 on energy and phone bills. That adds up to roughly $5,600 a year before other everyday costs.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793874951862","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793874951862","name":"Q: Will higher grocery prices in Akron cancel out the rent savings?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A: No. Groceries cost about $5 more per shopping trip in Akron, or roughly $22 a month if you shop weekly, compared with $432 a month in average rent savings.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793874966928","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793874966928","name":"Q: Does anything cost more in Akron than in Cleveland?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A: Yes. Some groceries like eggs, coffee and bread cost more in Akron, as do gas, tire balancing and eye exams.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793874990259","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793874990259","name":"Q: I need a three-bedroom apartment for my family. How much cheaper is Akron?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A: A three-bedroom averages $1,434 a month in Akron vs. $2,765 in Cleveland. That\u2019s about $1,331 less every month, or nearly $16,000 over a year.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793875009155","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/akron-oh-vs-cleveland-oh-cost-of-living-comparison-for-renters\/#faq-question-1793875009155","name":"Q: How do I figure out how much rent I can afford in either city?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A: Start with RentCafe's Rent Affordability Calculator to find a budget that fits your income. Then use the Cost of Living Calculator to compare everyday expenses between Akron and Cleveland.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/11\/Akron-OH-vs.-Cleveland-OH.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/757"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=151680"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":151722,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151680\/revisions\/151722"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=151680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=151680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}