Is $60,000 a good salary in Ohio?

$60,000 in Ohio provides a monthly take-home of approximately $4,115 after taxes. Across major Ohio cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $2,209.

What is the cost of living on $60,000 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 $60,000 take-home pay of $4,115/month, you would have roughly $2,209/month remaining.

Living in Ohio · 2026

Is $60,000 enough to live in Ohio?

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

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$4,115

Avg monthly expenses

$1,906

Avg monthly surplus

$2,209

Savings potential

~54%

After-tax take-home in Ohio

Gross salary$60,000

Federal income tax− $5,094

State income tax− $934

Social Security− $3,720

Medicare− $870

Annual take-home$49,382

Effective tax rate17.7%

How $60,000 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 comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$418

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $2,009/mo

Surplus: $2,106/mo

Rent burden: 26.7% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Columbus analysis →

Cleveland

COL index: 0.89× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$156

Utilities

$147

Healthcare

$178

Total: $1,927/mo

Surplus: $2,188/mo

Rent burden: 25.5% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Cleveland analysis →

Cincinnati

COL index: 0.94× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,150

Food

$418

Transport

$165

Utilities

$155

Healthcare

$188

Total: $2,076/mo

Surplus: $2,039/mo

Rent burden: 27.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Cincinnati analysis →

Toledo

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$383

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,792/mo

Surplus: $2,323/mo

Rent burden: 23.1% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Toledo analysis →

Akron

COL index: 0.87× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$980

Food

$387

Transport

$152

Utilities

$144

Healthcare

$174

Total: $1,837/mo

Surplus: $2,278/mo

Rent burden: 23.8% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Akron analysis →

Dayton

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$383

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,792/mo

Surplus: $2,323/mo

Rent burden: 23.1% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Dayton analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $4,115 ($49,380/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$2,058

per month

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

Wants30%

$1,235

per month

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

Savings20%

$823

per month

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

Needs / year

$24,690

Wants / year

$14,814

Savings / year

$9,876

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Columbus

Rent takes 27% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 7.4/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $60,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Columbus, Ohio, with approximately $2,106/month (~51% 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). $60,000 here is roughly equivalent to $121,978 in San Francisco or $58,022 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$60,000 is 52% above the Ohio individual median of $39,500 and 7% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$39,500

+52%

State household median

$68,251

-12%

Tax reduction strategies

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

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$60,000 vs. Ohio income benchmarks

Individual median (Ohio)

$39,500

+52% vs. this salary

Household median (Ohio)

$68,251

-12% 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.