B+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
8%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
28%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Rocky River Ohio National
Cost of living10692100
Goods & Services92100100
Groceries101101100
Health care9598100
Housing12873100
Transportation98100100
Utilities10399100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Rocky River, OH

Knowing the cost of living in Rocky River allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Rocky River stands at 106, marking it 6% higher than the national average.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Rocky River are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Rocky River can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Rocky River cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 27.5% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Rocky River Affordable?

Is Rocky River affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Rocky River, for instance, where the median home price falls 41.6% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 5.4% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Rocky River flaunting a median household income of $81,370, 47.1% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Rocky River?

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Rocky River, the utilities index registers 2.8% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Rocky River, the groceries index is 1.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Rocky River cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Rocky River is 15% higher than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Rocky River is 6% higher than the national average
  • Rocky River housing is 28% higher than the national average
  • Ohio general sales tax is 13% higher than the national average
  • Ohio state income tax is 6% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Rocky River

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Compare Rocky River, OH Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$104,971$8,748$2,449$3,149
      Renters$43,528$3,627$1,016$1,306
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Rocky River, OH, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Rocky River, the median monthly income is $104,971 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,449 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $43,528, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,016 on monthly rental expenses.

      Ohio Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Ohio 5.75% 8%

      Ohio Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Ohio 2.76% 3.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item Rocky River National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.67$24.262.5%
      Beauty Salon $35.31$45.5622.5%
      Toothpaste $3.68$3.700.5%
      Shampoo $1.45$1.2813.0%
      Movie $11.60$12.134.4%
      Bowling $18.27$18.001.5%

      Groceries

      Item Rocky River National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.46$5.846.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.4%
      Milk $4.57$4.672.3%
      Potatoes $5.38$4.939.1%
      Pizza $9.98$12.0917.4%
      Beer $10.51$10.411.0%

      Health Care

      Item Rocky River National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $103.58$125.6817.6%
      Doctor $119.67$135.7811.9%
      Dentist $109.73$113.293.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.73$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $503.65$468.607.5%

      Housing

      Item Rocky River National avg. Difference
      Home Price $261,600.00$184,700.0041.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,788.16$2,346.6923.8%
      Apartment Rent $898.00$949.005.4%

      Transportation

      Item Rocky River National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.41$3.461.4%
      Tire Balancing $57.76$59.923.6%

      Utilities

      Item Rocky River National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $205.88$193.996.1%
      Phone $186.78$192.252.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      East Cleveland, OH17,0478020.0%
      Linndale, OH3348217.9%
      Kinsman Center, OH6608217.9%
      Cleveland, OH383,3318317.4%
      Eaton Estates, OH1,2098317.0%
      Rocky River, OH20,1151065.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON20,111n/a 
      Sulphur, LA20,122909.7%
      Dixon, CA20,10614040.1%
      South St. Paul, MN20,1321000.3%
      Pittsburg, KS20,0968019.8%
      Rocky River, OH20,1151065.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.