What is the cost of living in Dayton, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dayton has an overall cost of living index of 141, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Dayton has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Dayton ranks as #177 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Dayton ranks as the #85 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Dayton, check out:
Dayton Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dayton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dayton is 109.
The Groceries index in Dayton is 113.
The Health index in Dayton is 212.
The Housing index in Dayton is 112.
The Transportation index in Dayton is 113.
The Utilities index in Dayton is 110.
| Living Expense | Dayton | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 141 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 212 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 113 | 100 |
Dayton Cost Of Living Compared To New Jersey Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Dayton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Dayton, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Dayton is $654,995.
The Median Rent in Dayton is $2,199.
The Median Income in Dayton is $151,902.
The Home Value To Income in Dayton is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dayton is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Dayton | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $654,995 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,199 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $151,902 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Dayton, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Dayton Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dayton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.53 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.53 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.98 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Dayton Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dayton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.13 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.7 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.32 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.12 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Dayton Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dayton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Dayton Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dayton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Dayton Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dayton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Dayton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dayton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dayton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Colonia, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.0x Dayton.
Princeton Meadows, NJ has a cost of living index of 154, 1.1x Dayton.
Middlesex, NJ has a cost of living index of 128, 0.9x Dayton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Princeton Meadows, NJ | 15,561 | 154 | 1.1x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.1x |
| Mercerville, NJ | 13,535 | 122 | 0.9x |
| Franklin Park, NJ | 13,211 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Hamilton Square, NJ | 11,622 | 127 | 0.9x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.2x |
| White Horse, NJ | 10,507 | 115 | 0.8x |
| Kendall Park, NJ | 10,011 | 140 | 1.0x |
