A+
15%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
51%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Dayton Ohio National
Cost of living8592100
Goods & Services100100100
Groceries101101100
Health care10798100
Housing4973100
Transportation95100100
Utilities10299100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Dayton, OH

Knowing the cost of living in Dayton allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Dayton stands at 85, marking it 15% lower than the national average.

Dayton housing costs are 50.8% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Dayton residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Dayton?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 19 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Dayton. The results indicated that 47% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 53% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Dayton Affordable?

Is Dayton affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Dayton, for instance, where the median home price falls 62.4% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 23.7% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Dayton flaunting a median household income of $34,457, 37.7% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Dayton?

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Dayton, the housing index comes in at 50.8% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Dayton, the standard sales tax rate starts at 5.75%, and the income tax rates commence at 0%.

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Dayton cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

New Real Estate Listings in Dayton Area
Search Homes for Sale in Dayton, OH

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Dayton is 8% lower than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Dayton is 15% lower than the national average
  • Dayton housing is 51% lower than the national average
  • Ohio general sales tax is 13% higher than the national average
  • Ohio state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Dayton

See all the best places to live around Dayton

Compare Dayton, OH Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Dayton?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Dayton?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Dayton poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$51,983$4,332$1,213$1,560
      Renters$22,186$1,849$518$666
      The affordability of the housing market in Dayton, OH as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Dayton homeowners, the median income is $51,983. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,213 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $22,186. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $518 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Ohio Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Ohio 5.75% 8%

      Ohio Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Ohio 0% 3.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item Dayton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.00$24.2613.4%
      Beauty Salon $43.31$45.564.9%
      Toothpaste $3.57$3.703.5%
      Shampoo $1.30$1.281.5%
      Movie $12.84$12.135.8%
      Bowling $16.32$18.009.3%

      Groceries

      Item Dayton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.04$5.843.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.69$1.577.2%
      Milk $4.78$4.672.2%
      Potatoes $5.19$4.935.1%
      Pizza $13.11$12.098.5%
      Beer $10.57$10.411.6%

      Health Care

      Item Dayton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $108.50$125.6813.7%
      Doctor $152.25$135.7812.1%
      Dentist $122.07$113.297.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.62$10.650.3%
      Lipitor $511.48$468.609.2%

      Housing

      Item Dayton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $69,400.00$184,700.0062.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,810.14$2,346.6922.9%
      Apartment Rent $724.00$949.0023.7%

      Transportation

      Item Dayton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.24$3.466.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.06$59.923.1%

      Utilities

      Item Dayton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $202.76$193.994.5%
      Phone $186.57$192.253.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Centerville village, OH698118.9%
      Drexel, OH2,3208218.4%
      Highland Holiday, OH6778218.0%
      Trotwood, OH24,4108614.1%
      New Lebanon, OH3,8868713.0%
      Dayton, OH140,4448515.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Miramar, FL140,47912222.0%
      Cambridge, ON140,221n/a 
      St. Catharines, ON140,913n/a 
      Fullerton, CA141,06117069.6%
      Denton, TX139,73411515.3%
      Dayton, OH140,4448515.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.