City comparison
Dayton, OH vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Dayton, OH (92.7) and Roanoke, VA (93.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Dayton, OH goes as far as $101,000 in Roanoke, VA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,009 a month in Dayton, OH and $1,053 in Roanoke, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,968 a year higher in Roanoke, VA than in Dayton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.6% moving from Dayton, OH to Roanoke, VA ($110,401 → $106,437), while prices change by +1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.5% in real buying power.
- Dayton, OH: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Dayton, OH | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,997 in Roanoke | $99,013 in Dayton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,009/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,980 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Dayton | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.7 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 95.4 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Dayton, OH → Roanoke, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$2,968/yr.
66 Fair offer
Roanoke, VA → Dayton, OH
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$2,968/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Dayton, OH is in the Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH pay area; Roanoke, VA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Dayton, OH to Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Dayton, OH | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Dayton → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,021 | $61,722 | −4.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,460 | $74,678 | −4.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,841 | $89,508 | −4.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,401 | $106,437 | −4.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,461 | $125,776 | −4.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Dayton, OH | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Dayton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $80,360 | $62,010 | $61,398 (−23.6%) |
| Software Developers | $106,910 | $121,110 | $119,915 (+12.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,030 | $77,240 | $76,478 (−3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,510 | $80,090 | $79,300 (−3.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.