Cincinnati is an amazing place to visit, and if you’ve been there, you might have decided it’s time to move. I’m Catrina, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Cincinnati, Ohio, and I’m here to talk to you about relocating to “The Queen City.” Moving here can be exciting, especially because Cincinnati gives you a little bit of everything: riverfront views, historic neighborhoods, major sports, college energy, arts, parks, research hospitals, well-known children’s hospitals, restaurants, and even other local cities that you can visit when you want to get out of the area.
Today, let’s look at relocation through a practical renter’s lens. I want to help you consider not only what kind of apartment you want, but also what would best fit your routine, which might suit your life best within the top neighborhoods in the area, and what kinds of things you might enjoy once you’re settled in.
So, if you’re ready to move, here is your relocation guide to help you make a plan.
Step 1: Decide Where You Want To Live in Cincinnati
Before you get too deep into apartment hunting, the first thing you should do is consider what you actually need and want to do in the city. Are you a sports fan? Do you go to the hospital for work or your own health regularly? Cincinnati is a city where location matters because hills, bridges, highways, and neighborhood layout can all impact how long it takes to get somewhere.
Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Cincinnati
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,339 | $506 | $6,000 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,465 | $250 | $6,693 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,809 | $780 | $5,395 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,337 | $800 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,186 | $699 | $10,000+ |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $3,396 | $866 | $10,000+ |
| 6 Bedroom Apartments | $16,731 | $6,603 | $10,000+ |
If you want to be close to sports, concerts, offices, and riverfront activity, start with. Downtown puts you near:
- The Banks
- Great American Ball Park
- Paycor Stadium
- Fountain Square
…as well as theaters, nightlife like bars and clubs, and so much more.
On the other hand, if you want food, nightlife, historic buildings, and are concerned about being able to walk where you want to go, look at Over-the-Rhine apartments. OTR has a strong local personality, with places like Findlay Market and Cincinnati Music Hall as centerpieces of the neighborhood.
Now, if you’re moving for school, medical work, or anything tied to the University of Cincinnati, Clifton apartments may make the most sense. The University of Cincinnati sits in the Uptown area, and living nearby can save you a ton of time on your commute.
You could also look into areas like Hyde Park or Oakley if you’re hoping for a more residential feel to your new home. Hyde Park has Hyde Park Square, while Oakley has Geier Esplanade, both fun places to visit and relax with friends or family.
Overall, any area can be a good pick, but it’s very important that you check your commute before you choose a home. Cincinnati might not look too large on a map, but a route that crosses downtown, uses I-71 or I-75, or depends on a bridge can quickly become tedious during the busiest times of the day.
Step 2: Searching for Your New Apartment
Once you’ve narrowed down the area in which you think you want to live, start looking at the specific features that would affect your daily life. In Cincinnati, parking is one thing you’ll need to monitor. Is it easy to park at work? What about getting to an event? Particularly in denser neighborhoods like Downtown or OTR, the parking situation can be a huge consideration.
Before you apply for an apartment, ask whether parking is included, assigned, garage-based, street-only, or permit-based. If you work from home, you’ll also want to ask about internet options and if there is a lot of noise. You might also want to find an apartment that holds your packages if they don’t deliver to your front door. You should also consider your pets — if you have a dog, look at walking routes and nearby parks to be sure you can walk them safely.
Step 3: Getting Your Utilities Ready
Once you choose where you’re going to live, utilities will be next. In much of Cincinnati, electric and gas service is handled through Duke Energy, which has a start, stop, and move service page for setting up service at a new address. That makes it easy to get started. It’s a similar process for Greater Cincinnati Water Works, which provides water to the region. Ask how your water bill is handled, as many apartment complexes pay for water for their tenants.
Utilities might seem like something you can do quickly, but it’s important to give yourself a few days before you need to move in to have them turned on. During peak seasons, it can take days or even a week or two to get utility services started if they’ve been stopped and the switch isn’t just swapping names on an account.
Step 4: Setting Up Garbage Disposal
Trash and recycling are easy to forget until you’re surrounded by moving boxes. If you’re renting inside the City of Cincinnati, the city’s garbage collection page explains all you need to know about garbage pickup. It also has a separate recycling program you can check for all your recycling needs. In an apartment, the complex might handle the garbage itself; ask the landlord or management.
For larger items you need to have picked up, like old furniture, Cincinnati’s 311 system has a bulk item pickup request for all eligible residential areas. Just be sure you call ahead, since it can take a week or two for pickup, and special rules may apply.
My advice to you is this: Always plan ahead. Ohio is great for many things, but speed is not always one of them. Give yourself a week or two of time so you’re sure your utilities will be ready to go when you are.
Step 5: Planning for Your Big Move
Cincinnati is anything but a grid-based, flat-plains-like city. Some streets are narrow, some buildings are older, some homes are on steep hills, and some apartments involve stairs without elevators. If you’re hiring movers, give them the real details: floor number, elevator access, loading area, street parking, steep driveways, and whether there’s a long walk from the truck to the unit. If you don’t, they may charge you more for your move after they arrive.
If you’ll be moving yourself, I’d suggest giving yourself at least one day longer than you’d think. And, it’s best if you get a box truck that you can lock. Doing this lets you account for hilly entrances and cases where you need extra time to get moved in. Additionally, if you get rained out, you’ll be able to try again the next day.
Step 6: Updating Your License and Registration
Whenever you move to a new address, whether you’re coming from Ohio or another state, you’ll need to update your license and registration. Check out Ohio BMV’s new resident page for driver’s license and vehicle registration requirements. If you’re bringing a car, you may need your title documents, proof of identification, and any county-specific requirements that apply. Your new apartment manager or landlord may also need this information to ensure you can park without getting ticketed, which could happen if you swap license plates without updating them.
Also, since you’ll now be in Hamilton County, make sure you find out where to vote if you’re a citizen and of age. Visit the Hamilton County Board of Elections to register to vote and make your voice heard.
Step 7: Traveling Around the City
Cincinnati is still a car-friendly city, and the reality is that most people in Ohio do get a vehicle by the time they’re out of high school. That being said, not all people drive, and there are options for public or private transportation that don’t require you to be licensed. Metro provides bus service throughout the Cincinnati region, but it’s worth checking routes before choosing an apartment because some take much longer than others.
Downtown and OTR also have the Connector streetcar,. The Connector travels a 3.6-mile loop connecting The Banks, the Central Business District, and Over-the-Rhine. It’s free to ride, which is great if you regularly travel between those areas.
Step 8: Getting To Know 311 and City Services
While moving in (and to be safe in the future), keep the City of Cincinnati’s 311 service portal handy. It’s useful for city service requests, such as reporting potholes.
You should also know that the boundaries of Cincinnati can be a little strange in areas. Before you submit a request or set up utilities, double-check whether your address is within the City of Cincinnati, elsewhere in Hamilton County, or in a nearby suburb in Kentucky or Ohio (you’ll know you’re in Kentucky if you’re across the river from Ohio, which makes that a little more straightforward).
Step 9: Build Your First-Week Cincinnati Routine
After moving in, give yourself some time to get to know your neighborhood. Usually, I’ll give myself a week to relax, unpack, meet up with friends, grocery shop, and take care of other needs before I go to work or school, for example.
If you’re downtown or in OTR, some fun suggestions include taking a ride on the streetcar and walking the route during the day to see how it runs. If you’re in Hyde Park or Oakley, spend some time in the public squares to get to know what’s around. Or, for Clifton, learn the campus-area traffic patterns before your first busy weekday so you can avoid getting stuck in rush hour.
In my opinion, taking that short time to get to know Cincinnati will do you a lot of good and make your life there much, much easier in the coming weeks and months.
Welcome to Your New Home
Moving to Cincinnati is easiest when you have a good plan. You can start by choosing your preferred area to live in, and then make sure you put aside time to get your utilities set up and get to know the neighborhood. Doing these things will help you relax into your new home and set you up for a great time in your new city.
