CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs Macon, GA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableGA
Macon
88.5
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Macon is slightly cheaper than Dayton — 4.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Dayton, you would need $76,400 in Macon. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.0%
Dayton
72.7
Macon
58.9
🛒 Groceries+2.9%
Dayton
93.6
Macon
96.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Dayton
103.9
Macon
103.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Dayton
94
Macon
93.7
Utilities6.2%
Dayton
95.4
Macon
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Macon, GA
$76,400
$3,600 less needed in Macon

Formula: salary × (88.5 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 0.9547. 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×

Macon, GA

Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
58.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.2×

Dayton has 19.0% lower housing costs compared to Macon.

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

Macon, GA

Median Household Income
$59,800
Per Capita Income
$34,100
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
157,346
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentLogisticsEducation

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)

Macon, GA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.