City comparison
Columbus, OH vs Youngstown, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Columbus, OH are 9.2% higher than in Youngstown, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Youngstown, OH would need about $109,200 in Columbus, OH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,194 a month in Columbus, OH versus $771 in Youngstown, OH. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Columbus, OH and 12% in Youngstown, OH.
- Both are in OH, so estimated state income tax is the same: $1,968 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.1% moving from Columbus, OH to Youngstown, OH ($111,065 → $111,138), while prices change by −8.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.3% in real buying power.
- Columbus, OH: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Youngstown, OH: price level 87.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Columbus, OH | Youngstown, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 87.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,542 in Youngstown | $109,240 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,194/mo | $771/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,340 | $43,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA |
Rent areas: Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area and Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA. Metro areas: Columbus, OH and Youngstown-Warren, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Youngstown |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 87.9 | 53.4 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 95.5 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 87.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, OH → Youngstown, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.2%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
98 Strong offer
Youngstown, OH → Columbus, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
42 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbus, OH is in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH pay area; Youngstown, OH is in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbus, OH to Youngstown, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, OH | Youngstown, OH | Real change, Columbus → Youngstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,406 | $64,448 | +9.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,926 | $77,977 | +9.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,400 | $93,461 | +9.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,065 | $111,138 | +9.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,245 | $131,331 | +9.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, OH | Youngstown, OH | Youngstown pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,150 | $72,560 | $79,264 (+1.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,340 | $107,990 | $117,968 (−3.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,700 | $73,080 | $79,832 (−2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,900 | $78,680 | $85,950 (+2.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.