CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs Lexington, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostOH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
KY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Dayton and Lexington have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+6.1%
Dayton
72.7
Lexington
77.1
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Dayton
93.6
Lexington
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Dayton
103.9
Lexington
101.7
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Dayton
94
Lexington
92
Utilities21.8%
Dayton
95.4
Lexington
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lexington, KY
$80,200
$200 more needed in Lexington

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 1.0022. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Dayton, OH

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

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Lexington has 6.1% higher housing costs compared to Dayton.

Income & Job Market

Dayton, OH

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

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Dayton, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.