New Study Says You Need $85K to Live Comfortably in Ohio

Living comfortably in Ohio isn’t as cheap as it used to be. According to a new report from SmartAsset, single adults need to earn at least $84,781 a year to keep up with the rising cost of living in the Buckeye State.

The financial education company pulled data from MIT and applied the 50/30/20 budgeting rule: meaning 50% of your income goes to essentials like housing and food, 30% to things like travel or hobbies, and 20% toward long-term savings. Based on that framework, Ohio came in as the seventh most affordable state for individuals in 2025.

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Still, nearly $85K a year just to breathe a little? It’s a sign of the times. According to SmartAsset’s findings, that number is about $6,000 higher than what was needed last year.

Across the river, Kentucky ranked even cheaper for singles, needing just under $84,000 to live comfortably. But, families of four need to bring in about $193,000 for a stable household. Ohio families, however, will need to bring in $220,563, putting us around the middle of the pack nationally for cost of living.

For comparison:

• Indiana: $86K needed for singles (11th cheapest)
• West Virginia: Cheapest for singles at $80,829
• Hawaii: Most expensive at $124K
• Massachusetts: Most expensive for families, requiring over $313K

Bottom line: Whether you’re solo in the city or raising a family in the suburbs, the price of “comfortable” in Ohio is climbing… and fast.

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