Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Bedford Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Bedford

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,193 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,248 in Bedford, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,330 in Bedford, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,395 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,411 in Bedford, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH is about 2% cheaper than Bedford, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Bedford sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 64%, Bedford by 68%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.11 $15.11

$20.45 £15.28

-26.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 $60.8

$66.6 £49.80

-8.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.01 $8.01

$10.79 £8.06

-25.76%

Cappuccino

$4.27 $4.27

$3.99 £2.98

7.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.01 £1.50

10.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.21 £0.91

76.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 $4.92

$5.56 £4.16

-11.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.98 £4.47

19.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.46 £1.09

-47.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.56 £1.17

110.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.17 £1.62

76.04%

Eggs

$3.34 $3.34

$3.57 £2.67

-6.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 $10.43

$10.46 £7.82

-0.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.38 $9.38

$9.39 £7.02

-0.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.01 £9.73

16.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.08 £2.30

57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.72 £1.29

-19.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.87 £2.14

38.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.32 £2.48

49.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.39 £1.04

48.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.58 £1.18

86.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.02 £0.76

70.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.38 £1.03

2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.94 $8.94

$20.46 £15.29

-56.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$10.84 £8.10

39.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.75 £2.05

-26.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.51 £1.88

-27.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.65 £1.98

-23.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.4 $79.4

$89.4 £66.8

-11.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 $3.67

$5.28 £3.94

-30.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$3.31 £2.47

-63.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.58 $24.58

$29.31 £21.90

-16.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.98 £1.48

-58.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.1K $35.1K

$38.2K £28.6K

-8.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$42.3K £31.6K

-39.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$121 $121

$281 £210

-56.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$56.5 $56.5

$15.36 £11.48

268.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 $55.8

$36.74 £27.46

51.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.63 $30.63

$45.40 £33.93

-32.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.01 $9.01

Cinema Ticket

$13.99 $13.99

$14.89 £11.13

-6.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,537 $1,537

$1,047 £783

46.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K $17.7K

$22.3K £16.7K

-20.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.97 $40.97

$101 £75.5

-59.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.49 $40.49

$37.49 £28.02

8.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 $89.4

$110 £82.4

-18.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$94.0 £70.3

6.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,507 $1,507

$1,163 £869

29.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,034 $1,034

$991 £740

4.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,837 $2,837

$2,059 £1,539

37.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,986 $1,986

$1,706 £1,275

16.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,217 $2,217

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,214 $4,214

$3,240 £2,421

30.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.85

11.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: July 22, 2026

Last update for Bedford: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,507 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,163 in Bedford. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 30% higher in Cincinnati, OH, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Cincinnati, OH versus $67.0 in Bedford. Groceries tell a different story – $346 in Cincinnati, OH vs $293 in Bedford – so Bedford wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cincinnati, OH vs Bedford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bedford costs about 2% more than Cincinnati, OH, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,290 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,372 in Bedford. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cincinnati, OH, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,193 in Cincinnati, OH and $2,248 in Bedford. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in Cincinnati, OH. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Cincinnati, OH, where all-in costs run around $2,193, than in Bedford at $2,248. In Cincinnati, OH it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bedford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cincinnati, OH – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cincinnati, OH. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bedford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.