7 Cheapest Places to Live in Ohio, 2022

It's essential to know a few things before moving to Ohio. For starters, it’s critical to get a good idea of what the cost of living in Ohio is going to be.

With rolling green space, cultural offerings, and affordable housing, it’s no wonder Ohio offers such a high quality of life, making it a popular destination to call home for many. Thankfully, some of the best places to live in Ohio remain relatively affordable, and some of the cheapest places to live in Ohio.

Note: The data provided below comes from our rent estimates. These numbers expand beyond those listed on our platform. For further information, learn about our methodology.

Ohio State Average Rent Prices

Before apartment hunting, get an idea about the average rents around Ohio.

• The average rent for an Ohio studio apartment is: $1,140.00
• The average rent for an Ohio one-bedroom apartment is: $1,0222.50
• The average rent for an Ohio two-bedroom apartment is: $1,373.00
• The average rent for an Ohio three-bedroom apartment is: $1,669.54

1. Cleveland

• Population: 372,624
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $829
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 7.9%
• Median Household Income: $31,838
• Walk Score: 57
• Transit Score: 44
• Bike Score: 52

With a New England-style downtown design and Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio, was founded in 1796 near the Cuyahoga River. As a central transportation hub between the East Coast and Midwest and a manufacturing town, Cleveland experienced explosive growth after the Civil War. As a result, Cleveland is desirable for its growing industries and affordable rents, whether you're a college student or raising a family.

According to the latest Apartment List Renter Migration Report, people move to Cleveland from Columbus, Detroit, and Akron. When locals leave Cleveland, they head to Columbus, Akron, and Canton.

Institutes like the renowned Cleveland Clinic ushered in a healthcare boom, even though manufacturing was the prominent industry for over a century. Other significant employers around Cleveland include University hospitals, the US government, and insurance. Cleveland State and Case Western, higher education opportunities, also call Cleveland home.

Check out open mic nights, and hit up the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to see Cleveland's rock and roll roots. The Cleveland Cavaliers have made a dramatic turnaround over the last decade. The Cleveland Guardians baseball team and the Cleveland Browns are entertaining fans across the city. Artistic outlets of the town include the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the Cleveland Orchestra.

Due to its proximity to Lake Eerie, dozens of parks offer a natural reprieve from the city, despite the harsh Cleveland winters. For example, the Cleveland Botanical Garden provides a peaceful urban sanctuary with 10 acres, a greenhouse, a children's garden, and replicas of wonders like the Costa Rican Rainforest beyond the urban beaches and bark.

Check out the hundreds of apartments available for rent now in Cleveland.

2. Cincinnati

• Population: 309,317
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $990
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 11.99%
• Median Household Income: $42,663
• Walk Score: 49
• Transit Score: 44
• Bike Score: 36

With the introduction of steamboats on the Ohio River, Cincinnati, Ohio, was first explored by settlers in 1811. Thanks to quick shipping, Cincinnati began exporting pork products as the city's trade grew. In just 20 years, the city became the central park processing center in the region, and its population tripled.

According to the latest Apartment List Renter Migration Report, people move to Cincinnati from Columbus, Philadelphia, and Dayton. When locals leave Columbus, they head to Dayton, Columbus, and Toledo.

In Cincinnati, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, insurance, finance, education, health services, and government are prominent industries. In addition, Cincinnati boasts a diverse economy, thanks to its proximity to Kentucky across the Ohio River, opening more job opportunities for locals.

College students and millennials looking for affordable rents and waterfront views find that Cincinnati is an ideal place to move. College students make themselves at home by attending the University of Cincinnati and private institutions.

Stretching from its urban core, Cincinnati has its share of culture, dining, and attractions. The Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the most prestigious art museums in the US, housing over 67,000 works of art in an iconic building in Eden Park. Historical attractions are also prominent in Cincinnati, including the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Locals get outdoors and root for the Reds at the Great American Ball Park, Framed by the city skyline. You can find playgrounds, a giant chessboard, gardens, bike paths, and a carousel at the Small Riverfront Park, sitting along the Ohio River. Among the best and oldest zoos in the country is the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

Check out the hundreds of apartments available for rent now in Cincinnati.

3. Columbus

• Population: 905,748**
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,116
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 10.93%
• Median Household Income: $54,902
• Walk Score: 41
• Transit Score: 30
• Bike Score: 48

Once the home of several Native American settlements, Columbus sits along the Scioto River in Ohio. When Europeans came to the region for the fur trade, they settled the city in 1812. During the Seven Years' War, the trade quest sparked territorial disputes over a fight to control the territory. However, commerce and the local economy exploded in 1850 when the railroad came into the area.

The diverse and growing economy in education, retail, automotive, bio-medical, and advanced computing is just part of why millennials and families come to Columbus. Columbus also offers local government and civilian work as it is the capital of Ohio.

According to the latest Apartment List Renter Migration Report, people move to Columbus from Cleveland, Detroit, and Cincinnati. When locals leave Columbus, they head to Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Daytona.

Ohio State University and the Buckeyes call Columbus home, attracting football fanatics. Drawing thousands of locals and visitors to its thriving college football scene, Ohio State is the highest-ranked public university in Ohio. With reasonable average rents, the campus is also near downtown, opening opportunities to enjoy the shopping, restaurants, and pubs in a vibrant city.

Thanks to its walkable downtown and convenience to surrounding attractions, the city is a desirable place to live, work, and play. For casual to upscale dining and craft brews, visitors and locals flock to German Village, located on the downtown strip, known for its award-winning food scene. Then, take to the Columbus Museum of Art for a culture stop, which features a contemporary gallery with interactive spots and special exhibits like LEGO works.

Besides New York City and Los Angeles, Columbus boasts more fashion per capita than any other city. In addition, several retail juggernauts call Columbus home, including Express, Abercrombie & Fitch, Victor's Secret, etc. Easton Town Center is another trendy neighborhood with big-box retailers, pedestrian-friendly open-air shopping and squares, and dining.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium features 10,000 animals and 575 species from around the globe, making for a great outdoor stop. The former director that helped elevate its presence and animal conservation was famed zookeeper Jack Hannah.

Check out the thousands of apartments available for rent now in Columbus.

4. Loveland

• Population: 13,307
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,132
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 16.22%
• Median Household Income: $69,978
• Walk Score: –
• Transit Score: –
• Bike Score: –

Loveland lies in the southwestern part of Ohio in Warren, Clermont, and Hamilton counties. Located 15 miles northeast of the Cincinnati city limits, many consider Loveland a part of the Greater Cincinnati area.

Historically, Loveland was a railroad town named after the owner and operator of the leading general store, James Loveland. In the 1870s, Loveland was a resort town with wealthy summer homes. Loveland even received the nickname of Little Switzerland of the Miami Valley.

Today, Loveland is a significant shop along the Little Miami Scenic Trail. After a population spike in the 1950s, the village was reincorporated as a chartered city. Then, the National Arbor Day Foundation designated Loveland a Tree City in the 1990s as it sought to preserve its downtown area.

The convenient access to nearby amenities, great parks, and beautiful scenery make a living in Loveland a desirable option in Ohio. In addition, the area's rich history pays tribute to many of the country's forefathers, including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

The easy commute to work, quiet neighborhoods, and family-friendly attractions make Loveland an excellent place for growing families. In addition, the Home of the Brave Park provides families with plenty of dry and wet areas for fun in this primarily residential city.

Check out the apartments available for rent now in Loveland.

5. Parma Heights

• Population: 20,863
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,140
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 6.84%
• Median Household Income: $51,328
• Walk Score: 41
• Transit Score: 38
• Bike Score: 42

One of the cheapest cities to live in Ohio is Parma Heights, which lies in Cuyahoga County. This western suburb of Cleveland is surrounded by the larger city of Parma to the south, east, and north.

The history of Parma Heights roots back to the early 1800s when surveyor Abraham Tappan from the Connecticut Land Company referred to it as Greenbriar. As the area grew, so did its self-government. Eventually, they renamed Parma Heights Greenbriar.

Today, Parma Heights is among the highest-rated urban areas in the greater Cleveland area. Some of the most remarkable features of Parma Heights include the low crime rates, cultural diversity, restaurants, cultural activities, and easy access to parks and greenspace.

Thanks to its terrific location, Parma Heights provides residents with quick and easy access to some of the area's best restaurants, schools, and entertainment in the nearby city, Parma.

Check out the hundreds of apartments available for rent now in Parma Heights.

6. Willoughby Hills

• Population: 10,019
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,188
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 10.72%
• Median Household Income: $57,331
• Walk Score: 30
• Transit Score: –
• Bike Score: 36

Located in Lake County, Ohio, is another one of the cheapest cities in the state, Willoughby Hills. A part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, Willoughby Hills is a suburb of Cleveland spanning just under 11 square miles.

Within this smaller Cleveland suburb, the most desirable areas tend to be in the northeast, with the most affordable housing options in the north. Although the housing in Willoughby Hills is on the more expensive end of our list of cheapest places to live in Ohio, it is still considered wildly affordable given all of its amenities.

Willoughby Hills offers residents a higher quality of life with lower crime rates, meaning it is a highly sought-after area to call home.

Some noteworthy buildings in Willoughby Hills include the Louis Penfield House, designed by famous American architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Squire’s Castle in the Cleveland Metroparks’ North Chagrin Reservation.

Check out the apartments available for rent now in Willoughby Hills.

7. Westerville

• Population: 39,190
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,226
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 16.43%
• Median Household Income: $92,287
• Walk Score: 28
• Transit Score: –
• Bike Score: 50

Closing out our list of the cheapest places to live in Ohio is a northeastern suburb of Columbus. Lying in both Delaware and Franklin counties, Westerville comes from European development dating to the early 1800s. Officially incorporated in 1858, Westerville was eventually called the Dry Capital of the World for its stringent laws on alcohol and participation in the driving force of Prohibition.

Westerville offers excellent housing options and a diverse economy, as well as wooded areas, countless restaurants, shops, schools, and civic amenities.

While no one can deny the convenience of the bigger cities of Ohio, like Cincinnati or Cleveland, Westerville offers city life benefits without the downsides, like higher crime rates and cost of living.

There are twenty schools in the Westerville school district, including three high schools. Even better, the high school graduation rate of Westerville is 16% higher than that of the rest of the country.

Check out the hundreds of apartments available for rent now in Westerville.

Final Thoughts - Where Should I Move to In Ohio?

No matter what you are looking for in Ohio, whether in the rural region of Westerville or the metropolitan area of Cincinnati, there’s something there for everyone. Thankfully, some of the best places to live in Ohio are also the cheapest places to live in Ohio.

So, if you are interested in moving to Ohio, now might be a good time to start your research. First, find out more information about the cost of living in Ohio. Next, register with Apartment List today and start checking out the thousands of available apartments to rent in Ohio!