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 $2,125 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,294 in Bedford, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,297 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,378 in Bedford, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,470 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,463 in Bedford, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH is about 7% cheaper than Bedford, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Bedford sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 59%, Bedford by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.90 $14.90

$20.34 £15.16

-26.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 $59.1

$68.8 £51.3

-14.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.15 $8.15

$11.05 £8.23

-26.24%

Cappuccino

$4.47 $4.47

$4.03 £3.00

10.92%

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

$2.23 $2.23

$1.95 £1.45

14.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.16 £0.86

84.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$5.35 £3.99

-8.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.03 £4.49

14.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.46 £1.09

-43.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.66 £1.23

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.17 £1.62

78.34%

Eggs

$3.25 $3.25

$3.74 £2.79

-13.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.37 $10.37

$10.44 £7.78

-0.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.58 $9.58

$9.35 £6.97

2.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.51 $15.51

$13.15 £9.80

17.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$3.16 £2.36

48.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.79 £1.33

-19.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.99 £2.23

31.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.30 £2.46

53.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.32 £0.99

57.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.58 £1.18

93.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.07 £0.80

64.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.45 £1.08

-2.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.92 $8.92

$20.13 £15.00

-55.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$10.58 £7.88

42.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.83 £2.11

-29.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.48 £1.85

-29.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.71 £2.02

-24.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.6 $79.6

$88.6 £66.0

-10.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 $3.68

$5.23 £3.89

-29.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$3.30 £2.46

-63.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.64 $24.64

$29.84 £22.23

-17.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.96 £1.46

-54.59%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$38.4K £28.6K

-8.47%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$41.3K £30.8K

-40.12%

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

$119 $119

$284 £212

-58.05%

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

$56.9 $56.9

$15.20 £11.33

274.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 $57.0

$37.76 £28.13

51.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.32 $30.32

$45.81 £34.12

-33.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 $8.50

Cinema Ticket

$13.96 $13.96

$14.90 £11.10

-6.31%

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

$1,595 $1,595

$1,032 £769

54.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K $17.1K

$22.6K £16.8K

-24.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.05 $41.05

$103 £76.5

-60.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.57 $39.57

$37.22 £27.73

6.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.2 $90.2

$109 £81.4

-17.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.2 $99.2

$95.3 £71.0

4.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,476 $1,476

$1,144 £852

29.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,055 $1,055

$971 £724

8.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,899 $2,899

$2,018 £1,504

43.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,965 $1,965

$1,707 £1,271

15.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,481 $3,481

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,073 $2,073

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,055 $4,055

$3,110 £2,317

30.39%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bedford: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,476 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,144 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 $59.0 in Cincinnati, OH versus $69.0 in Bedford. Groceries tell a different story – $349 in Cincinnati, OH vs $297 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 8% 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 $3,187 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,440 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 $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH and $2,294 in Bedford. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% 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 $2,125, than in Bedford at $2,294. 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.