CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs Memphis, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostOH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
TN
Memphis
92.2
overall index
$1,425/mo rent

Dayton and Memphis have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+9.8%
Dayton
72.7
Memphis
79.8
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Dayton
93.6
Memphis
96.2
🚗 Transportation3.7%
Dayton
103.9
Memphis
100.1
🏥 Healthcare3.6%
Dayton
94
Memphis
90.6
Utilities22.3%
Dayton
95.4
Memphis
74.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Memphis, TN
$79,600
$400 less needed in Memphis

Formula: salary × (92.2 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 0.9946. 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×

Memphis, TN

Median Home Price
$238,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
79.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.9×

Memphis has 9.8% 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

Memphis, TN

Median Household Income
$64,000
Per Capita Income
$36,500
Unemployment Rate
5.7%
Population
633,104
Top Industries
LogisticsHealthcareManufacturingTourismGovernment

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)

Memphis, TN
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.