Cost of living, Dayton
92.7
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Dayton sits about 7.3% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −7.3%
- Metro
- Dayton
- CBSA
- 19430
Dayton all-items RPP is 92.7 (2024), about 7.3% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $83,430 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Dayton
| Component | Dayton | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | 100 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 72.7 | 100 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Dayton
| At US average | In Dayton |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $55,620 |
| $90,000 | $83,430 |
| $150,000 | $139,050 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (92.7 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Dayton?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH is 92.7, versus a US average of 100 (−7.3%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $83,430 in Dayton for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 1,740 OEWS emp. $315,380
- Chief Executives , 200 OEWS emp. $210,670
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 660 OEWS emp. $163,700
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 1,110 OEWS emp. $160,040
- Engineers, All Other , 1,650 OEWS emp. $142,080
- Physician Assistants , 510 OEWS emp. $138,400
See methodology and disclaimer.