Is $22,000 a good salary in Ohio?

$22,000 in Ohio provides a monthly take-home of approximately $1,639 after taxes. Across major Ohio cities, this salary is rated very tight, with an average monthly surplus of $-267.

What is the cost of living on $22,000 in Ohio?

The average monthly living cost across major Ohio cities is approximately $1,906 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $22,000 take-home pay of $1,639/month, you would have roughly $-267/month remaining.

Living in Ohio · 2026

Is $22,000 enough to live in Ohio?

Single adult · OH · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very tight

Monthly take-home

$1,639

Avg monthly expenses

$1,906

Avg monthly surplus

$-267

Savings potential

~0%

After-tax take-home in Ohio

Gross salary$22,000

Federal income tax− $650

State income tax− $0

Social Security− $1,364

Medicare− $319

Annual take-home$19,667

Effective tax rate10.6%

How $22,000 feels in Ohio cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Columbus

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$418

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $2,009/mo

Surplus: $-370/mo

Rent burden: 67.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Columbus analysis →

Cleveland

COL index: 0.89× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$156

Utilities

$147

Healthcare

$178

Total: $1,927/mo

Surplus: $-288/mo

Rent burden: 64.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Cleveland analysis →

Cincinnati

COL index: 0.94× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,150

Food

$418

Transport

$165

Utilities

$155

Healthcare

$188

Total: $2,076/mo

Surplus: $-437/mo

Rent burden: 70.2% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Cincinnati analysis →

Toledo

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$383

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,792/mo

Surplus: $-153/mo

Rent burden: 58.0% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Toledo analysis →

Akron

COL index: 0.87× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$980

Food

$387

Transport

$152

Utilities

$144

Healthcare

$174

Total: $1,837/mo

Surplus: $-198/mo

Rent burden: 59.8% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Akron analysis →

Dayton

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$383

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,792/mo

Surplus: $-153/mo

Rent burden: 58.0% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Dayton analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,639 ($19,668/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$820

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$492

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$328

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$9,834

Wants / year

$5,900

Savings / year

$3,934

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Columbus

Rent alone would take 67% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $44,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 2.2/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $22,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Columbus, Ohio. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $370, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Columbus is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.91). $22,000 here is roughly equivalent to $44,725 in San Francisco or $21,275 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$22,000 is 44% below the Ohio individual median of $39,500. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$39,500

-44%

State household median

$68,251

-68%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$22,000 vs. Ohio income benchmarks

Individual median (Ohio)

$39,500

-44% vs. this salary

Household median (Ohio)

$68,251

-68% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Ohio

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.