CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Saginaw is slightly cheaper than Dayton — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Dayton, you would need $78,400 in Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.5%
Dayton
72.7
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Dayton
93.6
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Dayton
103.9
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Dayton
94
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities≈ Equal
Dayton
95.4
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$78,400
$1,600 less needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 0.9806. 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×

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Dayton has 12.5% lower housing costs compared to Saginaw.

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

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)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.