Is $23,000 a good salary in Ohio?

$23,000 in Ohio provides a monthly take-home of approximately $1,708 after taxes. Across major Ohio cities, this salary is rated very tight, with an average monthly surplus of $-198.

What is the cost of living on $23,000 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 $23,000 take-home pay of $1,708/month, you would have roughly $-198/month remaining.

Living in Ohio · 2026

Is $23,000 enough to live in Ohio?

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

Statewide verdict:Very tight

Monthly take-home

$1,708

Avg monthly expenses

$1,906

Avg monthly surplus

$-198

Savings potential

~0%

After-tax take-home in Ohio

Gross salary$23,000

Federal income tax− $750

State income tax− $0

Social Security− $1,426

Medicare− $334

Annual take-home$20,490

Effective tax rate10.91%

How $23,000 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: $-301/mo

Rent burden: 64.4% — 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: $-219/mo

Rent burden: 61.5% — 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: $-368/mo

Rent burden: 67.3% — 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: $-84/mo

Rent burden: 55.6% — 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: $-129/mo

Rent burden: 57.4% — 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: $-84/mo

Rent burden: 55.6% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Dayton analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,708 ($20,496/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$854

per month

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

Wants30%

$512

per month

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

Savings20%

$342

per month

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

Needs / year

$10,248

Wants / year

$6,149

Savings / year

$4,099

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Columbus

Rent alone would take 64% 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 $23,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Columbus, Ohio. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $301, 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). $23,000 here is roughly equivalent to $46,758 in San Francisco or $22,242 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$23,000 is 42% 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

-42%

State household median

$68,251

-66%

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)

$23,000 vs. Ohio income benchmarks

Individual median (Ohio)

$39,500

-42% vs. this salary

Household median (Ohio)

$68,251

-66% 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.