Cincinnati, OH vs Columbus, OH: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Cincinnati, OH is the higher-tax metro at 7.85%, versus 7.5% in Columbus, OH. The 0.35% gap works out to $0.35 on a $100 purchase, $3.50 on $1,000 and $87.50 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 0.35%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $3.50Paid in Cincinnati
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $87.50Vehicle-sized purchase
Cincinnati, OH
Hamilton County
7.85%
Combined rate · ranked #49 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Ohio state | 5.75% |
| county | Hamilton County | 1.3% |
| special district | Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority | 0.8% |
- Population
- 311,097
- Median household income
- $51,219
Hamilton County's transit sales tax replaced Cincinnati's earnings-tax funding of Metro, shifting the burden from workers to shoppers.
Columbus, OH
Franklin County
7.5%
Combined rate · ranked #59 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Ohio state | 5.75% |
| county | Franklin County | 1.25% |
| special district | Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) | 0.5% |
- Population
- 913,175
- Median household income
- $65,051
Ohio sets sales tax at county level, and COTA's transit levy applies across most of Franklin County rather than only inside Columbus.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (0.35%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 0.35% of $1,000 is $3.50. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Cincinnati or Columbus?
Cincinnati, OH at 7.85%, versus 7.5% in Columbus, OH.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Cincinnati on a $1,000 purchase?
About $3.50 more, and roughly $87.50 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Cincinnati and Columbus have different rates?
The state share is 5.75% in OH and 5.75% in OH. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.
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