Youngstown OH

Cost of Living in Youngstown, OH: Housing, Taxes and Daily Costs

Youngstown, OH is reported to cost about 8% less to live in than the national average, mostly because housing is cheaper. Here is what the figures cover and where they fall short.

Housing Ledger Editorial

13 Oct 2026 • 5 min read

The cost of living in Youngstown, OH is about 8% below the U.S. average, according to several cost-of-living indexes ^[1]^[2]. That gap is a useful starting point, but it is an average, and the indexes do not agree on the exact figure. Apartments.com reports 8.4% below the national level ^[3].

Most of that advantage comes from housing. Apartments.com puts local housing about 14.7% below national levels ^[3], and RentCafe puts it about 15% cheaper ^[2]. For a reader, that means rent and home prices are where you will save the most, so they deserve the closest look.

This article breaks down housing, property taxes, utilities and daily costs so you can build a budget from specific figures.

How does Youngstown compare with state and national averages?

The indexes do not agree on Youngstown's cost of living, so the answer depends on which one you use. Most put it below the national average, but one shows no difference.

RentCafe adds a state comparison. The cost of living in Youngstown, OH is 1% lower than the state average and 8% lower than the national average. ^[2] That means the city is only slightly cheaper than Ohio as a whole, and the larger gap is against the country.

Forbes shows no difference from the national average. The cost of living is 0% lower in Youngstown-Warren, OH, and homes tend to cost 0% lower. ^[4] Because the results differ this much, compare Youngstown with other cities using the same index for each, so the gap reflects the places rather than the method.

Household bills, a calculator and grocery receipts spread across a kitchen table in soft morning light.

What does housing cost in Youngstown?

Housing is where Youngstown's costs differ most from the national average, but the figure you find depends on the source. Payscale lists a median rent of $1,428 per month and a home price of $476,653 ^[1]. If you are renting, the rent is the number to set against your budget, while the home price is a sale figure you can test against listings.

Two other sources put housing well below the national level. Apartments.com reports that housing in Youngstown is 14.7% less expensive than average ^[3], and RentCafe puts it about 15% cheaper than the national average ^[2]. These percentages describe a gap, not a dollar amount, so they do not tell you what a specific apartment will cost.

Livability gives a much lower home value: the median home value is $57,603 ^[5].

Before you compare, identify what each source measures. A median sale price, asking rent and assessed value are three different things.

Two-story brick house with a front porch and small front lawn on a quiet residential street on a sunny day.

How much income do households in Youngstown need and earn?

U.S. News reports a median household income of $36,498 ^[6]. Livability reports a median household income of $35,898 ^[5], so treat the income picture as a range rather than one exact number.

The U.S. News page also counts about 60,887 residents ^[6]. A median describes the middle household in the city, not your own budget, so use it as a starting point for comparison.

What a living wage looks like

Income alone does not show whether a household can cover its costs. MIT's living wage calculation for the Youngstown-Warren metro lists $19.62, $35.77 and $47.40 ^[7]. The same table lists a minimum wage of $11.00 ^[7], so each living wage figure sits well above the legal floor.

MIT notes that these values vary by location and family size ^[7]. Your household count changes which figure applies to you. Count the adults and children who share your costs, then compare your income with the figure that matches that count.

Which costs go beyond rent and the purchase price?

Utilities, phone service and property taxes can add a real amount to your monthly total. Price each one separately rather than relying on a single average.

Utilities and phone bills

Utility and phone costs depend on your household: how many people live there, how much you heat or cool, and which carrier you use. Payscale lists a phone bill of $181.75, but the period behind that figure is unclear, so treat it as a rough reference and check it against your own bills. ^[1]

Property taxes

For a specific property, look up its rate on the Mahoning County Auditor's website instead of using a general figure for the city.

Ask before you compare

Before you compare offers, ask the landlord or seller which utilities and fees they pay. A rent that includes water and trash can cost you less each month than the same rent with those bills on your account.

Where do cost-of-living indexes fall short?

Cost-of-living indexes give you a rough comparison, not an exact bill. Each index measures its own mix of goods, housing and income, so the same city can rank differently from one index to the next.

Payscale says Youngstown's cost of living is 8% lower than the national average. ^[1] Forbes puts Youngstown-Warren at 0% below the national average. ^[4] Both figures come from different methods, so neither one settles the question alone.

The housing figures differ even more. A median value across homes and a price for a home on the market are different measures, so one number cannot stand in for the other.

An index gives one average for the whole metro area. It cannot tell you what a particular neighborhood, street or household routine will cost. For example, a rental in one part of Youngstown and a rental a few miles away can differ in price, and a citywide average hides that gap.

Use the index only for a rough comparison with other cities. Then check current rent and purchase prices in listings for the neighborhoods you are considering, comparing homes of the same size.

How can you make your budget go further in Youngstown?

Compare total monthly costs in several neighborhoods before you commit, because rent and home prices vary more by location than anything else. Pick three or four areas where you could live and note the asking rent for a unit that fits your household. A single neighborhood can look affordable on its own, and a short list shows the real range.

Next, add utilities and taxes before you decide between renting and buying. A rent that looks lower can cost more once heating, electricity, water and internet are added, especially if you pay them directly. A purchase price that looks reasonable still carries property taxes, homeowner's insurance and repairs that a renter may not pay.

Then build one monthly total for each option, using the same list for every home so the comparison is fair. For a rental, add rent, utilities, internet, phone and renter's insurance. For a purchase, add the mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowner's insurance and a monthly amount set aside for maintenance.

Put the totals side by side. The option with the lower rent or price is not always the one with the lower monthly cost, and the total is the number that fits your budget.

Is Youngstown affordable for you?

Payscale puts the overall figure 8% lower than the national average ^[1], and RentCafe says housing in Youngstown is 15% cheaper than the national average ^[2]. Rent and home prices are where your savings are most likely to show up.

The percentages differ by source. Compare rent with rent and purchase prices with purchase prices, and make sure both figures cover the same year.

The index is a starting point, not your bill. Build your own budget from your income, your household size and local costs such as rent, utilities and taxes. Then compare the monthly total against what you take home.