True Cost of Renting in Cleveland

Cleveland's rental market is defined by two anchors: the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, which together form one of the world's largest healthcare complexes, and a deep supply of affordable housing in a city that gained 500,000 residents at its 1950 peak. The result is a city where genuine value exists in neighborhoods like Ohio City and Tremont, alongside pockets of luxury near University Circle.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Ohio City

Studio:
$1,000/mo
1 Bed:
$1,300/mo
2 Bed:
$1,800/mo

Cleveland's most desirable walkable neighborhood just west of downtown; West Side Market, craft breweries, and restaurants on West 25th Street. RTA Red Line accessible. Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) electric. Older Victorian building stock — budget for higher winter heating bills.

Tremont

Studio:
$900/mo
1 Bed:
$1,200/mo
2 Bed:
$1,600/mo

Arts district south of downtown with converted lofts, galleries, and a strong restaurant scene along Professor Avenue. One of Cleveland's safest and most walkable neighborhoods. Street parking generally available. Working-class roots with ongoing gentrification.

Downtown Cleveland

Studio:
$1,000/mo
1 Bed:
$1,300/mo
2 Bed:
$1,800/mo

Cleveland's central business district with growing residential population; converted office towers and purpose-built apartments. Progressive Field, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and the Q are nearby. RTA hub. Building parking $75–125/mo. Strong for sports fans.

Utility Providers

Electric
The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy)
Water
Cleveland Division of Water
Internet
Spectrum, AT&T Fiber, T-Mobile Home Internet

Commute & Transportation

Cleveland's Greater Cleveland RTA operates light rail (Red, Green, Blue Lines) connecting Downtown, University Circle, and inner suburbs, plus an extensive bus network. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is 11 miles southwest — the RTA Red Line runs directly to the airport terminal for $2.50. I-90 (Cleveland Memorial Shoreway), I-77, I-71, and I-480 are the primary highway corridors. The Cleveland Clinic main campus is 3 miles east of Downtown — a major RTA destination. University Circle is accessible by car (15 min from downtown), bus, and the HealthLine BRT on Euclid Avenue. Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited stops at Cleveland Lakefront Station.

Rental Market Overview

Cleveland offers exceptional rental value for a major metro with genuine cultural amenities. The Cleveland Clinic is the #2 ranked hospital in the US and employs 70,000+ people in Northeast Ohio — this creates a large, stable renter base of medical professionals and support staff. FirstEnergy electric rates are in the middle range nationally ($0.12–0.15/kWh). Northeast Ohio winters are harsh — heating costs in older Cleveland apartment stock (common) can run $150–300/month from November to March. The city's large supply of affordable older housing stock keeps rents among the lowest for any major US metro. A 1BR in Ohio City for $1,300 compares to $2,500+ in Denver or Nashville for similar urban amenity proximity.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Cleveland

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Renting in Cleveland: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Cleveland?
One-bedroom apartments in Cleveland range from $1,200/month in Tremont to $1,300/month in Downtown Cleveland. Two-bedroom units range from $1,600 to $1,800/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Cleveland?
In Cleveland, electricity is provided by The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy), water by Cleveland Division of Water, and common internet providers include Spectrum, AT&T Fiber, T-Mobile Home Internet. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Cleveland.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Cleveland?
Tremont is the most affordable of the 3 Cleveland neighborhoods covered here, at $1,200/month for a one-bedroom — $100 less than Downtown Cleveland, roughly an 8% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Cleveland expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Cleveland runs about $1,267/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Cleveland offers exceptional rental value for a major metro with genuine cultural amenities. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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