City comparison
No. Cleveland's crime index is 341 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 425 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
The income gap between Oakland and Cleveland is significant: $101,600 median household versus $64,468. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,979 in Oakland and $1,060 in Cleveland.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Cleveland costs less and Oakland pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Oakland and Cleveland are 2,154 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $919 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $37,132 (37%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 341 in Cleveland, down 93 points (21%).
The move
Cleveland and Oakland are 2,154 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $919 a month (87%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $101,600 in Oakland, up $37,132 (58%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 434 in Oakland, up 93 points (27%).
Oakland, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Oakland and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 46% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Cleveland is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $919/month back in your pocket ($11,028/year). Over five years that's $55,140 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Oakland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cleveland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
58% higher
Oakland's median income is 58% higher than Cleveland
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 58% higher in Oakland (about $37,132 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Cleveland's crime index is 21% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
Winner341 (100 = avg)
Cleveland's crime index is 341 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Cleveland. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Cleveland is the easier city. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 52% more comfortable than Cleveland
Oakland
Winner68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oakland scores 52% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Cleveland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 58% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 46% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Cleveland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Oakland (341 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Cleveland at $1,060/month versus $1,979 in Oakland ($919 apart). Oakland median income is $101,600 against $64,468 in Cleveland, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Cleveland rent at $1,060/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Oakland and 53°F in Cleveland.
Pick Cleveland when shaving $919 off rent at $1,060/month is the priority. Otherwise, Oakland's case rests on $1,979/month rent with $101,600 local income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Cleveland?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Cleveland when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oakland and Cleveland, plus other cities in CA and OH.
