Portage, IN vs Mentor, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mentor, OH has a modeled overall cost index 19.8% lower than Portage, IN.

Portage, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,330 / month
Mentor, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,440 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Portage, IN and Mentor, OH using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
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Estimated savings: $1,474/month in Mentor, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $132,312 in Mentor, OH

Regional cost estimates: Portage, IN uses Chicago, IL. Mentor, OH uses Cleveland, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 19.8%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,474
Savings
Annual Impact
$17.7K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Portage, IN

Population:39K
Cost Index:
97.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$262K

Mentor, OH

Population:47K
Cost Index:
78.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$264K

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Portage, IN

The Hoosier State

39K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 39K residents.

Mentor, OH

The Buckeye State

47K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 47K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Portage, IN vs Mentor, OH

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 42.7%
Portage, IN
$2,449
Mentor, OH
$1,404
Difference
$1,045
less
Transportation
↓ 14.1%
Portage, IN
$1,491
Mentor, OH
$1,281
Difference
$210
less
Other
↓ 6.4%
Portage, IN
$1,560
Mentor, OH
$1,460
Difference
$99.72
less
Healthcare
↓ 9.0%
Portage, IN
$555
Mentor, OH
$505
Difference
$49.85
less
All Utilities
↓ 8.0%
Portage, IN
$485
Mentor, OH
$446
Difference
$38.86
less
Groceries
↓ 3.2%
Portage, IN
$961
Mentor, OH
$930
Difference
$30.61
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$970
To$1,050
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$1,090
To$1,190
↑ $100
2 Bed
From$1,330
To$1,440
↑ $110
3 Bed
From$1,630
To$1,850
↑ $220
Portage, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,090–$1,090/mo

Mentor, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Portage, IN
$6,026
Monthly in Mentor, OH
$1,474
Difference

Home Values

Portage
Mentor
$262K
Median Value
$264K
↓ -0.4%
YoY Change
↑ +3.6%
↑ +32.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +36.3%

Homes in Mentor are 1% more expensive than Portage

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $418
Per year
Monthly Difference
$34.81
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Portage, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Mentor, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Portage, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Mentor, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Portage
Mentor
54 Moderate
Air Quality
54 Moderate
35.8%
Good Air Days
37.2%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days

Before moving from Portage, IN to Mentor, OH

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mentor, OH for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Portage, IN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Portage to Mentor moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Mentor, OH by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Portage, IN vs Mentor, OH

How do the cost estimates for Portage, IN and Mentor, OH compare?

Mentor, OH has a modeled overall cost index 19.8% lower than Portage, IN. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Portage, IN, the model estimates $132,312 in Mentor, OH. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Portage, IN and Mentor, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,330/month in Portage, IN and $1,440/month in Mentor, OH. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Indiana and Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

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