Last updated 2026-06-15 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
The lowest-rent cities in the Buckeye State, with jobs, colleges, and four real seasons.
1. Toledo: Cheapest overall
2. Dayton: Best for jobs on a budget
3. Youngstown: Best rock-bottom rent
4. Akron: Best for value and jobs
5. Canton: Best small-city value
6. Cleveland: Best big-city value
7. Springfield: Best for affordability
8. Lima: Best rural-hub value
Ohio is already affordable, but some cities stretch a budget much further than Columbus or the suburbs. These are the places where rent stays low while you keep access to jobs, colleges, and big-city amenities nearby. Here are the 8 cheapest places to live in Ohio, ranked by value.