Moving to Cincinnati? Nestled along the Ohio River, the third-largest city in Ohio features top-notch cuisine, a thriving arts scene, booming job market, and much more. Here are 15 things to know about living in Cincinnati!
Live Affordably in Cincinnati
The cost of living in Cincinnati is one of the biggest draws to moving to this Midwestern city. Compared to the U.S. average, Cincy is 8% less expensive and on par with the national unemployment rate at 3.3%. The most affordable part about living in Cincinnati is its housing market. Here, the overall housing cost is 33% lower than the national average, with a median home price of $148,700 and a median rent price of $760. And with many safe, affordable neighborhoods in Cincy, you’ll easily be able to find a budget-friendly housing option that suits your needs after moving to Cincinnati.
Find a Career in a Booming Job Market
Home to several Fortune 500 companies, Cincinnati’s job market is diverse and healthy, so people moving to Cincinnati won’t have trouble finding great job opportunities. The city is perfect for young professionals in major industries like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and retail. Make a difference in the medical system at UC Health or TriHealth. Work at financial institutions like Fifth Third Bank or Western & Southern Financial Group. Or seek employment at other big names like The Kroger Company, Proctor & Gamble, or Johnson & Johnson.
Advance with Higher Education
Want to pursue higher education in Cincinnati? You’ll have several options at top colleges in Cincinnati! Study anesthesiology, cancer biology, radiology, and more at the UC College of Medicine. Enroll in a nationally-recognized co-op program at the largest college in the city, the top-rated University of Cincinnati. Attend Xavier University for a small-school feel with more than 90 majors. Check out Cincinnati State for an affordable way to earn an Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or technical certificate. Consider Mount St. Joseph University, one of the best value colleges in the area. Or travel just ten minutes south of the city to earn an education at Thomas More University.
Choose Public Transportation in Cincy
While it’s common to drive in Cincinnati, this city also includes many convenient public transportation options. Whether biking, walking, or ridesharing, take the scenic Roebling Bridge to get to work or sporting events across the river. Catch a ride to class or travel from Uptown to Downtown Cincinnati attractions on Go Metro. Hop on the Southbank Shuttle for quick access to riverfront cities like Covington and Newport in Northern Kentucky. Pedal through the streets of Cincinnati with Red Bike. Make stops at popular Cincinnati neighborhoods like The Banks, Downtown, and Over-The-Rhine on the free Connector electric streetcar. Or fly out of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport for your next vacation or work trip.
Revel in the Outdoors
Take a break from the city buzz at any of Cincinnati’s outdoor recreation spots. Hike over 100 acres of forest and spot a variety of flora and fauna at California Woods Nature Preserve. Play golf, ride horseback, fish, launch canoes, and more at Adventure Outpost. Join the Camera Club, forage for and cook wild mushrooms, or hit the trails for a Fall Bird Walk at the Cincinnati Nature Center. Challenge your friends to a game of pickleball on the Cincinnati Riverfront courts with Pickleball at Sawyer Point. Stroll the Garden Loop Trail, apply for the Lottery Bow Hunting Program, or settle in for Story Time in the Garden at Glenwood Gardens. Or hit the slopes on your skis, board, or snow tube after Cincinnati’s first snowfall at Perfect North Slopes.
Enjoy Family Activities in Cincinnati
Searching for fun family activities in Cincinnati? Take your kids to events like Penguin Days, Happy Zoo Year, and more at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Find rare white alligators in Gator Alley and walk the 75-foot Shark Bridge above an open-water tank at Newport Aquarium (called the “Cincinnati Aquarium” by residents). Make the drive up I-71 to ride the longest wooden roller coaster in the world, “The Beast,” at Kings Island—the largest amusement and water park in the Midwest. Let the little ones play on the swings or with the interactive foot piano at Smale Riverfront Park. Or shop farm-fresh produce at the oldest continuously operated public market in Ohio, Findlay Market.
Explore Over-The-Rhine
Nothing beats a trip to the historic Over-The-Rhine neighborhood (called OTR by locals). Located just a mile north of downtown, OTR is Cincinnati’s most famous entertainment district with some of the best local boutiques, hip bars, and restaurants in Cincinnati. Along with National Historic Landmark Cincinnati Music Hall, you can find Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and the School for Creative & Performing Arts. While here, stop in for a drink at the Rhinegeist Brewery, a taproom inside a historic bottling plant. Grab a scoop of ice cream at Graeter’s, a 150-year-old creamery that still churns treats the “old way” in two-gallon French pot freezers. Or cool down at the splash pad, attend painting classes, dance to local musicians, catch featured films, and more in Washington Park.
Walk Around Cincy Museums
Cincinnati is brimming with museums! For art connoisseurs, the Cincinnati Art Museum and Taft Museum of Art are great stops to see Native American art, South Asian antiquities, modern photography, and much more. Pop into the history, science, and children’s museums or the OMNIMAX theater at Art Deco-style Cincinnati Museum Center. Learn the roots of professional firefighting at the Cincinnati Fire Museum. Marvel at hundreds of larger-than-life neon and vintage signs at the American Sign Museum. Or explore interactive exhibits that bring baseball history to life at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum.
Immerse Yourself in Arts & Culture
If you enjoy art, Cincinnati is the place to be! In fact, Cincy was ranked one of the most vibrant art communities in the nation. Witness art and creativity engaging with modern controversy through exhibitions, performances, and experiences at Contemporary Arts Center. Attend a performance or take world-class dance lessons from the Cincinnati Ballet—or dress up for date night to watch the Cincinnati Opera at Cincinnati Music Hall. Be transfixed by compositions from Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Gershwin with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Catch musicals, comedy tours, concerts, and more at Taft Theatre. Or check out Broadway shows like Beetlejuice, Peter Pan, or Six: The Musical at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.
Root for Cincinnati Sports Teams
Cincinnati is home to three professional sports teams, so you’ll have plenty of athletes to cheer on throughout the year. Enjoy America’s pastime at the Great American Ball Park as the Big Red Machine, the Cincinnati Reds (MLB), take the field. Watch the Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) break the Curse of Bo Jackson from the WHO DEY Deck at Paycor Stadium. Catch another kind of football as FC Cincinnati (MLS) boots up for a match at TQL Stadium. Lace up your running shoes for the greatest marathon in Cincinnati, the Flying Pig Marathon. Or shout the Buckeye battle cry at sporting events for the Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA) like lacrosse, soccer, or basketball.
Experience Unforgettable Cincy Festivals
The city has plenty of festivals to celebrate Cincy’s cultural differences. Bring a taste of Deutschland to the Midwest with a variety of German beers, food, and entertainment at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. Gather on Fifth Street with over 550,000 attendees for mouthwatering food truck eats and live music at Taste of Cincinnati. Enjoy Brazilian samba performances, spoken word readings, face painting, and a parade of flags at Juneteenth Festival. Feast on a variety of Greek foods while learning about the Greek culture at Panegyri Greek Festival. Sample local and regional beans at the largest coffee and tea event in the Midwest, Cincinnati Coffee Festival. Or admire 4 million LED lights during the Wild Lights show at the PNC Festival of Lights.
Devour Skyline Chili
As the self-dubbed “chili capital of the world”, Cincinnati lays claim to the invention of Cincinnati chili (also known as Skyline Chili). This famous type of chili was created by the Greek owners of the restaurant Skyline Chili. What sets this staple apart from other chili, though? It doesn’t contain beans! Instead, it’s usually served on top of spaghetti or hot dogs and then loaded up with cheese, onions, hot sauce, and oyster crackers. Looking to try this fan-favorite food? Try the Chili Sandwich or Chili Cheese Nachos from Camp Washington Chili. Or devour a Chili & Cheese Omelet, Hot Chili Cheese Melt, or 5 Way Chili at the family-owned restaurant, Price Hill Chili.
Get Your Eat On in Cincy
While Cincinnati may be known for chili, you can find many other cuisines here! For some of the best brunch in Cincinnati, start your day with Buttermilk Cakes Pancakes, Greek Bee Scramble, or Ember Avo Toast at Sleepy Bee Cafe. Order a Sweet Greens cold-pressed juice with Maplewood Hash or Lemon Ricotta Pancakes at Maplewood Kitchen and Bar. Devour Tartare di Fassone, Bistecca Fiorentina, or Cacio e Pepe at Sotto, one of the best Italian restaurants in Cincinnati. Try tasty gourmet hot dogs like the K-Pop, Trailer Park, or Spuds Mackenzie at Senate. Share a plate of Skirt Steak Tacos, Buffalo Chicken Empanadas, or Butternut Squash Soup at Argentinian Che. Savor a Dirty French Burger, Salmon with Brown Butter, or Fried Mortadella at Sacred Beast. Indulge in desserts like Tiger Bites, Walnut Chocolate Chip Brownies, and Snickerdoodle Cookies at That’s So Sweet. Or satisfy your sweet tooth with one (or two) cupcake-size cheesecakes in flavors like Mixed Berry, Salted Caramel Truffle, or Birthday Cake Batter at The Cheesecakery.
Sip Cincinnati’s Suds
While Cincinnati breweries don’t come with a lot of fanfare, they certainly don’t underwhelm. Located in the Northside neighborhood underneath the St. Patrick’s church is Urban Artifact, a craft brewery and music venue known for its unique beer flavors and wood-fired pizza. Want some craft beer to go? Stop in at Listermann Brewing Company, where you’ll find a growler station and home-brew store. Meet new people and compete in volleyball, cycling, pickleball, and more at Fifty West Brewing Company, which sits in a former roadside speakeasy on US-50. Enjoy a night out on the patio at MadTree Brewing, a trendy taproom with a wide selection of craft beers and wood-fired pizzas. Hit up West Side Brewing, which offers tons of fun events, food trucks, and tap beers. Or for a more relaxed atmosphere, try Mt. Carmel Brewing Company, a small family-friendly taproom that’s built into a 1920s farmhouse.
Don’t Miss Cincinnati Nightlife
Wind down with a Martini, Paris to Moscow, or The King’s Order cocktail at The Righteous Room. Listen to modern jazz riffs and soul music sets three nights a week over a glass of Caparzo Sangiovese, Cannonball Merlot, or Mariana Rose at Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge. Dance the night away with your friends at Energy Nightclub. Test out one of the many creative cocktails, like Purple Rain or Burning Sailboat, at Sundry and Vice. Cozy up to the outdoor fire while sipping a beer and swaying to live music at tucked-away outdoor bar Mecca OTR. Or sing your heart out and crown the best bartender during Cincinnati Cock Fight at unique Japanese-style karaoke bar, Tokyo Kitty.
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