CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Dayton, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableOH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Dayton is moderately cheaper than Charlottesville — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $74,800 in Dayton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing32.1%
Charlottesville
107
Dayton
72.7
🛒 Groceries3.3%
Charlottesville
96.8
Dayton
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Charlottesville
103.5
Dayton
103.9
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Charlottesville
93.7
Dayton
94
Utilities+7.2%
Charlottesville
89
Dayton
95.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charlottesville to see what you'd need to earn in Dayton to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Dayton, OH
$74,800
$5,200 less needed in Dayton

Formula: salary × (92.7 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 0.9354. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlottesville, VA

Median Home Price
$455,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
107
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Dayton, OH

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.1×

Charlottesville has 32.1% lower housing costs compared to Dayton.

Income & Job Market

Charlottesville, VA

Median Household Income
$92,300
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
46,553
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentTourism

Dayton, OH

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
137,630
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareMilitaryEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charlottesville, VA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Dayton, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.