Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH

Cost-of-living indicators for Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

Reviewed byPlaincost Editorial, Cost Of Living Editorial Team · June 9, 2026

92.7
Overall RPP: #222
of 387 metros: 72.7
Rents RPP: $108K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Dayton costs less than 57% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 92.7, 7.3% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 72.7.

92.7
overall cost index (US average = 100): #222
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros: bottom 43%
by overall cost, nationwide: 72.7
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $107,882 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $92,694.

What the Numbers Mean for Dayton

Dayton ranks #222 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the lower half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 92.7, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH is 7.3% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Dayton's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 72.7 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.

Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $107,882 inside Dayton, while a household needs roughly $92,694 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 72.7 — 27.3% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.

Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Dayton's overall index has fallen by 3.3 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.6 and services at 95.4, meaning everyday spending in Dayton is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.

Dayton vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

93 Top 57% higher than 43% of 387 US metros

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Rents

72.7
Services

95.4
Overall

92.7
Goods

93.6

What this shows Dayton's gap from the national average is led by rents at 72.7. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Goods vs. housing — where Dayton's cost comes from

Metros near Dayton's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 93.8, rents 73.8). Dayton is cheaper than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Dayton's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Price Index Summary

Overall

92.7

-7.3 below avg

Goods

93.6

-6.4 below avg

Services

95.4

-4.6 below avg

Rents

72.7

-27.3 below avg

Salary Equivalent

A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:

$92,694

in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH purchasing power

$50,000 nationally

$46,347

$75,000 nationally

$69,521

$125,000 nationally

$115,868

$150,000 nationally

$139,041

$200,000 nationally

$185,388

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.

RPP History (2008-2024)

The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.3 points over this period.

Year	Overall	Goods	Services	Rents
2008	96.0	98.6	100.3	80.2
2009	94.6	97.5	104.2	75.4
2010	94.2	96.3	97.7	77.8
2011	93.1	95.9	98.7	78.4
2012	93.1	97.2	96.4	74.2
2013	93.6	97.1	95.7	75.7
2014	93.5	98.5	89.7	76.3
2015	92.6	97.9	89.2	76.2
2016	92.7	97.1	84.7	74.7
2017	91.9	95.3	90.6	75.4
2018	92.8	97.3	94.5	72.8
2019	92.5	95.9	90.8	69.3
2020	91.8	93.9	91.3	73.3
2021	92.3	94.4	92.0	73.4
2022	91.5	92.3	87.5	72.9
2023	92.4	94.1	89.1	75.0
2024	92.7	93.6	95.4	72.7

Metros with Similar Cost of Living

These metros have an overall RPP closest to Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH's index of 92.7.

Champaign-Urbana, IL 92.7 Yuma, AZ 92.7 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA 92.7 Utica-Rome, NY 92.7 Corpus Christi, TX 92.7 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA 92.7

Other OH Metros

Columbus 95.5 Cincinnati 95.4 Cleveland 93.9 Akron 93.4 Toledo 91.5 Springfield 90.5

View all OH metros →

Compare to Other Metros

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Custom Compare →

Cost of Living Guides

Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026

Official BEA data on the most affordable areas

Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings

What drives high costs and how to cope

Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data

Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations

Comparing Metro Areas

Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH? ▼

Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 92.7, meaning it is 7.3% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.6, services at 95.4, and rents at 72.7. It ranks #222 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.

What salary do I need in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH to match $100K nationally? ▼

To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $92,694 in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH. Conversely, $100K earned in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH has the purchasing power of $107,882 at the national average.

How expensive is rent in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH? ▼

Rents in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH are indexed at 72.7, which is 27.3% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.

Is Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH getting more expensive? ▼

From 2008 to 2024, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH's overall cost index changed by -3.3 points (from 96.0 to 92.7). The cost of living has been declining.

What metros have a similar cost of living to Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH? ▼

Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Champaign-Urbana, Yuma, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH's 92.7.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.

Browse all → | Rankings →

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Federal data behind these figures

BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr