Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Lawrence, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Lawrence, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,163 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,092 in Lawrence, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,304 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,352 in Lawrence, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,445 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,611 in Lawrence, KS, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH costs about 3% more than Lawrence, KS, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Lawrence, KS sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 62%, Lawrence, KS by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.90 $14.90

$14.94 $14.94

-0.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 $60.8

$75.0 $75.0

-18.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.06 $8.06

$10.06 $10.06

-19.88%

Cappuccino

$4.42 $4.42

$5.25 $5.25

-15.81%

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

$2.24 $2.24

$3.09 $3.09

-27.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.93 $1.93

11.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.93 $4.93

0.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.93 $6.93

1.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.50 $2.50

30.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$4.40 $4.40

-13.18%

Eggs

$3.19 $3.19

$3.34 $3.34

-4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.48 $10.48

$11.72 $11.72

-10.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.48 $9.48

$10.84 $10.84

-12.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$15.67 $15.67

-3.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$6.14 $6.14

-25.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.23 $2.23

-34.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$4.79 $4.79

-19.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$3.76 $3.76

32.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.77 $1.77

16.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.70 $2.70

7.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.53 $1.53

17.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.46 $2.46

-43.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.16 $9.16

$8.05 $8.05

13.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$13.02 $13.02

17.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.73 $1.73

15.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.66 $1.66

10.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.48 $0.48

327.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.8 $79.8

$24.55 $24.55

225.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.04 $3.04

22.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.33 $1.33

-5.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.52 $24.52

$25.36 $25.36

-3.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.81 $0.81

3.70%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$35.6K $35.6K

-1.73%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.9K $26.9K

-6.96%

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

$122 $122

$328 $328

-62.83%

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

$57.1 $57.1

$51.9 $51.9

10.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 $55.2

$65.7 $65.7

-15.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.53 $30.53

$45.08 $45.08

-32.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.86 $8.86

$11.80 $11.80

-24.92%

Cinema Ticket

$13.55 $13.55

$12.22 $12.22

10.88%

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

$1,577 $1,577

$922 $922

70.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K $17.1K

$24.8K $24.8K

-31.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.44 $40.44

$53.6 $53.6

-24.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.28 $39.28

$35.06 $35.06

12.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.4 $87.4

$96.0 $96.0

-8.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$89.1 $89.1

14.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 $1,489

$938 $938

58.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 $1,024

$803 $803

27.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,924 $2,924

$1,594 $1,594

83.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,920 $1,920

$1,807 $1,807

6.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,439 $3,439

$2,413 $2,413

42.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,074 $2,074

-0.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,018 $4,018

$3,796 $3,796

5.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.45

1.40%

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: April 26, 2026

Last update for Lawrence, KS: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,489 in Cincinnati, OH versus $938 in Lawrence, KS. 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 6% higher in Cincinnati, OH, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Cincinnati, OH versus $75.0 in Lawrence, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $367 – making Cincinnati, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lawrence, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,163 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,092 in Lawrence, KS – roughly 3% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,244 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,138 in Lawrence, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lawrence, KS, 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 $2,163 in Cincinnati, OH and $2,092 in Lawrence, KS. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 225% less in Lawrence, KS. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lawrence, KS, where all-in costs run around $2,092, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,163. In Lawrence, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cincinnati, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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