City comparison
Cincinnati, OH vs Dayton, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 2.9% higher than in Dayton, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Dayton, OH would need about $102,900 in Cincinnati, OH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,051 a month in Cincinnati, OH and $1,009 in Dayton, OH.
- Both are in OH, so estimated state income tax is the same: $1,968 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.4% moving from Cincinnati, OH to Dayton, OH ($110,865 → $110,401), while prices change by −2.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.5% in real buying power.
- Cincinnati, OH: price level 95.4 (cheaper)
- Dayton, OH: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cincinnati, OH | Dayton, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.4 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,194 in Dayton | $102,887 in Cincinnati |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,051/mo | $1,009/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,170 | $49,980 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH |
Rent areas: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA. Metro areas: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN and Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cincinnati | Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 87.6 | 72.7 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 91.0 | 95.4 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 95.4 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cincinnati, OH → Dayton, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.9%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
78 Strong offer
Dayton, OH → Cincinnati, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.8%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Cincinnati, OH is in the Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN pay area; Dayton, OH is in Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH. The last column shows what a transfer from Cincinnati, OH to Dayton, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cincinnati, OH | Dayton, OH | Real change, Cincinnati → Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,290 | $64,021 | +2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,785 | $77,460 | +2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,231 | $92,841 | +2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,865 | $110,401 | +2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,009 | $130,461 | +2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cincinnati, OH | Dayton, OH | Dayton pay in Cincinnati dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,740 | $80,360 | $82,680 (+27.7%) |
| Software Developers | $121,420 | $106,910 | $109,996 (−9.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,640 | $79,030 | $81,312 (+0.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,650 | $82,510 | $84,892 (+1.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.