What is the cost of living in Dayton, OH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dayton has an overall cost of living index of 81, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Ohio, Dayton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Ohio's index of 90.
The standard of living in Dayton ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 284 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Dayton ranks as the #276 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.
For more reading on life in Dayton, check out:
Dayton Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio
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 99.
The Groceries index in Dayton is 97.
The Health index in Dayton is 51.
The Housing index in Dayton is 93.
The Transportation index in Dayton is 96.
The Utilities index in Dayton is 95.
| Living Expense | Dayton | Ohio | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 51 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 97 | 100 |
Dayton Cost Of Living Compared To Ohio Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Ohio, 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, OH Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Ohio, 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 $136,592.
The Median Rent in Dayton is $918.
The Median Income in Dayton is $45,247.
The Home Value To Income in Dayton is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dayton is 0.24x.
Dayton, OH Costs By Category
Detailed Dayton Services costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Dayton Groceries costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Dayton Health costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Dayton Transportation costs vs. Ohio
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:
Kettering, OH has a cost of living index of 92, 1.1x Dayton.
Beavercreek, OH has a cost of living index of 101, 1.2x Dayton.
Huber Heights, OH has a cost of living index of 90, 1.1x Dayton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettering, OH | 57,206 | 92 | 1.1x |
| Beavercreek, OH | 47,126 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Huber Heights, OH | 43,455 | 90 | 1.1x |
| Centerville, OH | 25,205 | 96 | 1.2x |
| Riverside, OH | 24,435 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Trotwood, OH | 23,041 | 82 | 1.0x |
| Springboro, OH | 19,980 | 109 | 1.3x |
| Vandalia, OH | 15,053 | 89 | 1.1x |
| Clayton, OH | 13,277 | 93 | 1.1x |
| West Carrollton, OH | 12,976 | 85 | 1.0x |
