How much does it cost to rent in Cleveland, OH?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Cleveland, OH is $1,430. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Cleveland cheaper than other Ohio cities?

Cleveland falls in the middle range for Ohio, ranking #73 out of 128 cities at $1,430/mo.

When was Cleveland rent data last updated?

Cleveland rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

DJ Johnson / Unsplash

City Report · OH

Cleveland

Name: Average Rent Prices in Cleveland, OH
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 366,097·73rd most expensive in Ohio·Cleveland rents are up 9.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,430/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$535

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Cleveland rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Cleveland · $1,430

More affordable than 80% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

49/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Cleveland's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,430/mo

Expected by trend

$1,420/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Cleveland's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$870

1 BR

$985

2 BR

$1,193

3 BR

$1,536

4 BR+

$1,646

Research median

$1,193/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$17,160/yr

At $1,430/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 9.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.8% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Cleveland, OH is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 22.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

366,097

Median income

$40,801

Median age

36.3

Renters

58.3%

Age distribution

21%

26.9%

23.8%

13%

15.2%

Under 1821%

18–3426.9%

35–5423.8%

55–6413%

65+15.2%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

35.5%

45.9%

13.2%

White35.5%

Black45.9%

Hispanic13.2%

Asian2.6%

Other2.6%

Education (25+)

15.7%

33.9%

28%

22.4%

No HS diploma15.7%

HS diploma33.9%

Some college28%

Bachelor's+22.4%

Housing tenure

41.7%

58.3%

Owner41.7%

Renter58.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Cleveland, OH has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,005 → $1,430

up 42.3%

Income

$33,678 → $40,801

up 21.2%

Population

374,861 → 366,097

down 2.3%

Renter share

58.8% → 58.3%

-0.5 pts

Bachelor's+

19.2% → 22.4%

+3.2 pts

Rent in Cleveland, OH has climbed 42.3% since 2021, going from about $1,005 per month to roughly $1,430 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $33,678 in 2021 to $40,801 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 21.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 374,861 to 366,097 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.3% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 19.2% to 22.4%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Cleveland, OH market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Cleveland

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View Cleveland rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Cleveland on your salary?

At $1,430/mo, how Cleveland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 19.3% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 27.2% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 23.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 13.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 10.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 29.1% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 32.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 26.1% income

affordable

By apartment size

Cleveland rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Cleveland. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Cleveland

About renting in Cleveland, OH

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Cleveland is $1,430/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $870/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,193/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $985/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,536/mo.

At 42% of local median household income ($40,801/yr), Cleveland ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Cleveland an affordable city for renters?

Cleveland is considered stretched for renters. At $1,430/mo, rent takes approximately 42% of the local median household income ($40,801/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Cleveland significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in Cleveland?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $57,000/year (~$27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,430/mo in Cleveland. The local median household income is $40,801/yr, meaning the typical Cleveland household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Cleveland?

Rent in Cleveland has increased 9.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Cleveland neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Cleveland are 44104 ($1,079/mo), 44110 ($1,093/mo), and 44119 ($1,167/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Cleveland is $1,430/mo.

How does Cleveland rent compare to other cities in Ohio?

Cleveland is middle-of-the-pack for Ohio for rent, ranking #73 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,430/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Cleveland?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Cleveland ($1,430/mo): East Cleveland ($771/mo), Parma ($1,402/mo), Garfield Heights ($1,423/mo).

What percentage of Cleveland residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 58.3% of Cleveland households are renters, while 41.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Cleveland has a strong rental market.

How does Cleveland rent compare to the national average?

Cleveland's median rent of $1,430/mo is $535 (27%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Ohio, it ranks #73 out of 128 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

42%

STRETCHED

At $1,430/mo, rent takes ~42% of Cleveland's median household income ($40,801/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Cleveland 42%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2.75–3.5%

Run the Cleveland affordability calculator →

Nearby cities