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Living in Ohio · 2026

Is $38,000 enough to live in Ohio?

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

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$2,693

Avg monthly expenses

$1,906

Avg monthly surplus

$787

Savings potential

~29%

After-tax take-home in Ohio

Gross salary$38,000
Federal income tax− $2,454
State income tax− $329
Social Security− $2,356
Medicare− $551
Annual take-home$32,310
Effective tax rate14.97%

How $38,000 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

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,100
Food
$418
Transport
$159
Utilities
$150
Healthcare
$182
Total: $2,009/mo
Surplus: $684/mo
Rent burden: 40.9% — High (35–50%)
Full Columbus analysis →

Cleveland

COL index: 0.89× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,050
Food
$396
Transport
$156
Utilities
$147
Healthcare
$178
Total: $1,927/mo
Surplus: $766/mo
Rent burden: 39.0% — High (35–50%)
Full Cleveland analysis →

Cincinnati

COL index: 0.94× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$1,150
Food
$418
Transport
$165
Utilities
$155
Healthcare
$188
Total: $2,076/mo
Surplus: $617/mo
Rent burden: 42.7% — High (35–50%)
Full Cincinnati analysis →

Toledo

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$383
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,792/mo
Surplus: $901/mo
Rent burden: 35.3% — High (35–50%)
Full Toledo analysis →

Akron

COL index: 0.87× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$980
Food
$387
Transport
$152
Utilities
$144
Healthcare
$174
Total: $1,837/mo
Surplus: $856/mo
Rent burden: 36.4% — High (35–50%)
Full Akron analysis →

Dayton

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$383
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,792/mo
Surplus: $901/mo
Rent burden: 35.3% — High (35–50%)
Full Dayton analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,693 ($32,316/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%
Needs50%

$1,347

per month

  • ›Rent / mortgage
  • ›Groceries
  • ›Utilities
  • ›Insurance
  • ›Minimum debt payments
  • ›Transportation
Wants30%

$808

per month

  • ›Dining out
  • ›Streaming services
  • ›Gym
  • ›Hobbies
  • ›Travel
  • ›Shopping
Savings20%

$539

per month

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

Needs / year

$16,158

Wants / year

$9,695

Savings / year

$6,463

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Columbus

Rent would consume 41% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 6/10 (Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $38,000 salary comfortably supports a good single lifestyle in Columbus, Ohio, with approximately $684/month (~25% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Columbus is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.91). $38,000 here is roughly equivalent to $77,253 in San Francisco or $36,747 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$38,000 is 4% 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

-4%

State household median

$68,251

-44%

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)

$38,000 vs. Ohio income benchmarks

Individual median (Ohio)

$39,500

-4% vs. this salary

Household median (Ohio)

$68,251

-44% 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
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Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

Data updated monthly using government datasets.