Rent Tracker
Rent Inflation in Cincinnati, OH
The average asking rent in Cincinnati, OH is $1,575/month as of 2026-05. That is +3.1% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) | zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$1,575/mo
as of 2026-05
Year-over-Year Change
+3.1%
24-Month Rent Trend
Monthly ZORI index values for Cincinnati, OH.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05 | $1,575 | +0.32% |
| 2026-04 | $1,570 | +0.45% |
| 2026-03 | $1,563 | +0.77% |
| 2026-02 | $1,551 | +0.71% |
| 2026-01 | $1,540 | +0.33% |
| 2025-12 | $1,535 | -0.20% |
| 2025-11 | $1,538 | -0.45% |
| 2025-10 | $1,545 | -0.19% |
| 2025-09 | $1,548 | +0.00% |
| 2025-08 | $1,548 | +0.39% |
| 2025-07 | $1,542 | +0.52% |
| 2025-06 | $1,534 | +0.46% |
| 2025-05 | $1,527 | +0.79% |
| 2025-04 | $1,515 | +0.40% |
| 2025-03 | $1,509 | +0.67% |
| 2025-02 | $1,499 | -0.07% |
| 2025-01 | $1,500 | +0.13% |
| 2024-12 | $1,498 | -0.13% |
| 2024-11 | $1,500 | +0.07% |
| 2024-10 | $1,499 | +0.13% |
| 2024-09 | $1,497 | +0.13% |
| 2024-08 | $1,495 | +0.54% |
| 2024-07 | $1,487 | +0.47% |
| 2024-06 | $1,480 | — |
Why Rent Inflation Matters
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Compare All Cities
Open Full Rent Tracker →Other Cities
Data Source
Rent data uses the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), a smoothed measure of typical market-rate asking rents updated monthly by Zillow Research. ZORI covers single-family homes, condos, and co-ops and reflects asking rents for new leases — making it a more timely indicator than the lagged BLS shelter index. zillow.com/research | Money & Prices