Cost of Living in Dayton, OH
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Dayton, OH to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Dayton, OH?
With a price level of 92.7 (U.S. average = 100), Dayton, OH is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 27% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 5% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Dayton, OH vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | −7.3% |
| Housing | 72.7 | −27.3% |
| Goods | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Utilities | 95.4 | −4.6% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Dayton, OH
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $928 | $37,120/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,009 | $40,360/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,273 | $50,920/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,651 | $66,040/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,817 | $72,680/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Dayton, OH
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Dayton, OH | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,100 | $31,752 |
| $60,000 | $55,600 | $46,108 |
| $80,000 | $74,200 | $59,772 |
| $100,000 | $92,700 | $72,278 |
| $150,000 | $139,000 | $103,232 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Ohio 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Dayton, OH's median wage of $49,980 takes home about $3,479 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,009, which is 29% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,470 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Dayton, OH
- Federal income tax$3,818
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,099
- Medicare (1.45%)$725
- Ohio income tax$592
- Take-home pay$41,747
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Dayton residents also pay a city income tax: about $1,250 a year on the $49,980 median wage, leaving $40,497. Select “Dayton” under City income tax above to include it.
Highest-paying jobs in Dayton, OH
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Ohio cities
Half of Ohio’s 5,550,180 workers earn less than $49,380 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,820–$77,570 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Dayton, OH stretches a paycheck furthest, while Wheeling, WV is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $51,340 | 95.5 | $1,179 | 33% | $2,388 | $44,834 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $50,170 | 95.4 | $1,043 | 30% | $2,448 | $43,928 |
| Cleveland, OH | $50,140 | 93.9 | $1,048 | 30% | $2,441 | $44,580 |
| Dayton, OH | $49,980 | 92.7 | $1,009 | 29% | $2,470 | $45,037 |
| Akron, OH | $48,840 | 93.4 | $985 | 29% | $2,420 | $43,764 |
| Toledo, OH | $48,220 | 91.5 | $820 | 24% | $2,545 | $44,154 |
| Canton, OH | $45,810 | 89.4 | $846 | 26% | $2,363 | $43,074 |
| Youngstown, OH | $43,800 | 87.4 | $771 | 25% | $2,308 | $42,281 |
| Huntington, WV | $44,600 | 88.4 | $829 | 26% | $2,302 | $42,492 |
| Wheeling, WV | $44,250 | 88.3 | $816 | 26% | $2,292 | $42,232 |
| Sandusky, OH | $44,970 | 89.3 | $871 | 28% | $2,284 | $42,404 |
| Lima, OH | $47,170 | 89.7 | $844 | 26% | $2,453 | $44,125 |
| Mansfield, OH | $44,700 | 88.9 | $773 | 25% | $2,364 | $42,364 |
| Springfield, OH | $45,470 | 90.5 | $843 | 26% | $2,344 | $42,270 |
| Weirton, WV | $45,840 | 89.0 | $757 | 24% | $2,454 | $43,285 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Dayton, OH vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton, OH | 92.7 | $1,009 | $49,980 | 372,660 |
| Allentown, PA | 100.0 | $1,365 | $48,990 | 377,180 |
| Greensboro, NC | 92.9 | $1,164 | $46,570 | 365,410 |
| Little Rock, AR | 89.4 | $984 | $45,790 | 358,210 |
| Tucson, AZ | 96.9 | $1,081 | $47,760 | 389,630 |
| Boise City, ID | 98.4 | $1,369 | $49,100 | 391,790 |
| Charleston, SC | 101.0 | $1,630 | $49,150 | 394,170 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dayton, OH expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area are 92.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 72.7%. It is the #222 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Dayton, OH?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,616 in Dayton, OH (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,980.
Can you afford Dayton, OH on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,980 median wage takes home about $3,479 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,009 would take 29% of that.
How much is rent in Dayton, OH?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Dayton, OH are $928 for a studio, $1,009 for one bedroom, $1,273 for two bedrooms and $1,651 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Dayton, OH
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $98,030
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $102,660
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $94,520
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,030
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $106,910
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $80,360
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $78,970
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,980
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $82,510
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $61,770
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $41,670
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,980
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,680
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,600
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,700
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,680
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $67,880
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,930
- Retail Salesperson — $30,360
- Cashier — $28,750
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $64,510
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $48,970
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,310
- Customer Service Representative — $44,970
- Office Clerks, General — $42,840
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $50,710
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $39,940
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,490
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,120
- Light Truck Driver — $42,200
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,280
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,750