Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Owensboro, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Owensboro, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,338 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,032 in Owensboro, KY, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,476 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,979 in Owensboro, KY, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,613 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,926 in Owensboro, KY, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH costs about 15% more than Owensboro, KY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Owensboro, KY sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 70%, Owensboro, KY by 47%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.15 $15.15

$18.38 $18.38

-17.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.00 $49.00

$59.9 $59.9

-18.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$11.02 $11.02

-10.89%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$5.92 $5.92

-15.71%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$1.92 $1.92

19.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.37 $1.37

35.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.41 $5.41

$3.89 $3.89

39.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.72 $7.72

$5.03 $5.03

53.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.13 $1.13

-16.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.26 $3.26

0.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$4.14 $4.14

-2.90%

Eggs

$4.18 $4.18

$3.01 $3.01

38.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 $12.95

$6.51 $6.51

98.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.22 $11.22

$10.93 $10.93

2.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.83 $15.83

$12.07 $12.07

31.15%

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$4.42 $4.42

26.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.29 $1.29

27.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$2.65 $2.65

60.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$3.62 $3.62

30.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.15 $2.15

20.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.21 $2.21

44.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.06 $2.06

-0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.47 $1.47

30.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.24 $9.24

10.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$8.10 $8.10

88.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.47 $2.47

-13.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$4.64 $4.64

-34.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.98 $0.98

174.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$30.33 $30.33

247.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 $3.67

$4.95 $4.95

-25.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.54 $1.54

-17.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.50 $24.50

$21.28 $21.28

15.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.81 $0.81

25.93%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.8K $37.8K

-4.60%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

-4.97%

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

$152 $152

$173 $173

-12.32%

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

$77.9 $77.9

$60.0 $60.0

29.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 $69.8

$61.0 $61.0

14.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.20 $34.20

$49.56 $49.56

-30.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.62 $13.62

$9.90 $9.90

37.58%

Cinema Ticket

$14.35 $14.35

$13.00 $13.00

10.38%

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

$1,466 $1,466

$1,472 $1,472

-0.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K $19.5K

$30.8K $30.8K

-36.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.64 $45.64

$54.2 $54.2

-15.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.58 $45.58

$43.78 $43.78

4.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.3 $82.3

$92.1 $92.1

-10.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$139 $139

-20.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 $1,629

$852 $852

91.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 $1,053

$833 $833

26.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,164 $3,164

$1,390 $1,390

127.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,827 $1,827

$1,390 $1,390

31.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,401 $3,401

$1,641 $1,641

107.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,140 $2,140

$1,663 $1,663

28.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,175 $4,175

$3,385 $3,385

23.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

6.07

2.31%

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: September 7, 2026

Last update for Owensboro, KY: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,629 in Cincinnati, OH versus $852 in Owensboro, KY. 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 23% 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 $49.00 in Cincinnati, OH versus $60.0 in Owensboro, KY. Groceries tell a different story – $388 in Cincinnati, OH vs $316 in Owensboro, KY – so Owensboro, KY 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 Owensboro, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,338 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,032 in Owensboro, KY – roughly 15% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,507 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,047 in Owensboro, KY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Owensboro, KY, 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 $2,338 in Cincinnati, OH and $2,032 in Owensboro, KY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 248% less in Owensboro, KY. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Owensboro, KY, where all-in costs run around $2,032, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,338. In Owensboro, KY it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cincinnati, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Owensboro, KY – 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 Owensboro, KY. 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.