2016 Cost of Living Index Year-End Review

FINDLAY, Ohio, February 16, 2017 – Among the 264 urban areas that participated in the 2016 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) NY to more than 20 percent below the national average in McAllen, TX. The data presented represent average prices submitted for the first three quarters of 2016. The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Ten Most and Least Expensive Urban Areas in the Cost of Living Index (COLI) Year-End Review of Three Quarters 2016 National Average for 264 Urban Areas = 100
Most Expensive				Least Expensive
		COL				COL
Ranking	Urban Areas	Index		Ranking	Urban Areas		Index
1	New York (Manhattan) NY		228.2	1	McAllen TX		76.4
2	Honolulu HI		190.5	2	Harlingen TX		79.4
3	San Francisco CA		177.4	3	Richmond IN		79.9
4	New York (Brooklyn) NY		173.6	4	Kalamazoo MI		80.1
5	Orange County CA		151.6	5	Ashland OH		81.5
6	Washington DC		149.2	6	Cleveland TN		82.7
7	Oakland CA		148.7	7	Tupelo MS		82.8
8	Boston MA		148.1	8	Martinsville-Henry County VA		82.8
9	Stamford CT		145.9	9	Memphis TN		83.0
10	Seattle WA		145.1	10	Hattiesburg MS		83.8

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 50,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected three times a year by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area.

The composite index is based on six component categories – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services. The average for all participating places in each quarter equals 100 and each participant’s index is read as a percentage of the average for all places. However, small differences should not be construed as significant—or even as indicating correctly which area is the more expensive.

13.61%

Grocery Items

27.59%

Housing

10.06%

Utilities

9.59%

Trans-portation

4.00%

Health Care

35.15%

Misc. Goods

And Services

Findlay OH

97.1

83.5

84.9

96.0

96.6

108.4

The City of Findlay’s 2016 Cost of Living Index was 96.0, 4.0 percent below that of the national average. The City of Findlay’s composite index reflects the following six different categories of consumer expenditures.

Additionally, Findlay ranked third among participating Ohio urban areas.

The Most to Least Expensive Urban Areas in Ohio in the Cost of Living Index (COLI) Year-End Review of Three Quarters in 2016 National Average for 264 Urban Areas = 100
Ranking	Urban Areas	COL Index
1	Akron OH		100.6
2	Cleveland-Elyria OH		98.7
3	Findlay OH		96.0
4	Dayton OH		95.5
5	Cincinnati OH-KY-IN		91.2
6	Lima OH		90.6
7	Columbus OH		90.0
8	Ashland OH		81.5

Compared to other Ohio cities, Findlay’s data showed that it offered more affordable home energy costs and lower auto maintenance and gasoline prices than all other participating Ohio cities, Findlay also enjoyed lower grocery costs than cities such as Akron, Ashland, Cleveland and Dayton. Findlay’s housing and healthcare costs were slightly higher than locations such as Ashland, Columbus and Dayton, but lower than Cleveland.

Since it is cold and flu season, which communities have the highest and lowest prices of orange juice and Advil?

Orange juice and Advil, essential for those suffering from seasonal bouts of flu and colds, Ohio urban areas participating in the survey are featured with the most to least expensive places to buy those items.

The Most to Least Expensive Places to Buy Orange Juice in the Cost of Living Index (COLI) Averaged over Three Quarters in 2016 National Average for 264 Urban Areas in 2016 = $3.50
Ranking	Urban Areas	Price
1	Akron OH		$3.96
2	Cleveland OH		$3.85
3	Dayton OH		$3.52
4	Ashland OH		$3.45
5	Lima OH		$3.42
6	Findlay OH		$3.19
7	Cincinnati OH		$3.03
8	Columbus OH		$3.01

The Most to Least Expensive Places to Buy Ibuprofen in the Cost of Living Index (COLI) Averaged over Three Quarters in 2016 National Average for 264 Urban Areas in 2016 = $9.29
Ranking	Urban Areas	Price
1	Akron OH		$11.27
2	Cleveland OH		$9.98
3	Lima OH		$9.49
4	Ashland OH		$9.35
5	Dayton OH		$9.28
6	Findlay OH		$8.95
7	Cincinnati OH		$8.33
8	Columbus OH		$8.22