Dayton, OH vs Akron, OH: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Akron, OH and Dayton, OH are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Dayton works out to about $75,500 in Akron, before taxes.
- Housing is 5.6% higher in Akron, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,306 a month in Akron and $1,320 in Dayton, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Akron was 2.4% more expensive than Dayton.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Dayton and Akron
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Dayton, OH
- Akron, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dayton, OH | Akron, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | 93.4 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 72.7 | 76.8 |
| Utilities | 95.4 | 96.4 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Category | Dayton | Akron | Akron vs Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | 93.4 | +0.7% |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 72.7 | 76.8 | +5.6% |
| Utilities | 95.4 | 96.4 | +1.1% |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,320 | $1,306 | −1.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Dayton | $75,000 | $75,500 | +0.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Dayton and Akron has narrowed since 2008: 3.5 points then, 0.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Dayton, OH
- Akron, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dayton, OH | Akron, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.0 | 92.5 |
| 2009 | 94.6 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 94.2 | 93.2 |
| 2011 | 93.1 | 94.0 |
| 2012 | 93.1 | 95.5 |
| 2013 | 93.6 | 95.2 |
| 2014 | 93.5 | 94.9 |
| 2015 | 92.6 | 95.5 |
| 2016 | 92.7 | 95.2 |
| 2017 | 91.9 | 95.3 |
| 2018 | 92.8 | 94.3 |
| 2019 | 92.5 | 94.7 |
| 2020 | 91.8 | 93.5 |
| 2021 | 92.3 | 93.5 |
| 2022 | 91.5 | 92.1 |
| 2023 | 92.4 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 92.7 | 93.4 |
Goods
- Dayton, OH
- Akron, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dayton, OH | Akron, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 90.3 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 95.5 |
| 2010 | 96.3 | 92.4 |
| 2011 | 95.9 | 95.1 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 98.0 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 97.9 | 96.7 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 94.9 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 95.5 |
| 2018 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 93.9 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2022 | 92.3 | 92.3 |
| 2023 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 93.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Dayton, OH
- Akron, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dayton, OH | Akron, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 80.2 | 84.9 |
| 2009 | 75.4 | 82.8 |
| 2010 | 77.8 | 80.8 |
| 2011 | 78.4 | 80.5 |
| 2012 | 74.2 | 84.1 |
| 2013 | 75.7 | 83.1 |
| 2014 | 76.3 | 77.7 |
| 2015 | 76.2 | 83.3 |
| 2016 | 74.7 | 82.3 |
| 2017 | 75.4 | 82.9 |
| 2018 | 72.8 | 81.4 |
| 2019 | 69.3 | 80.9 |
| 2020 | 73.3 | 81.8 |
| 2021 | 73.4 | 80.3 |
| 2022 | 72.9 | 76.6 |
| 2023 | 75.0 | 77.5 |
| 2024 | 72.7 | 76.8 |
Utilities
- Dayton, OH
- Akron, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dayton, OH | Akron, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.3 | 110.7 |
| 2009 | 104.2 | 111.0 |
| 2010 | 97.7 | 90.8 |
| 2011 | 98.7 | 90.8 |
| 2012 | 96.4 | 87.1 |
| 2013 | 95.7 | 92.6 |
| 2014 | 89.7 | 90.1 |
| 2015 | 89.2 | 93.5 |
| 2016 | 84.7 | 90.7 |
| 2017 | 90.6 | 83.9 |
| 2018 | 94.5 | 94.3 |
| 2019 | 90.8 | 90.6 |
| 2020 | 91.3 | 91.2 |
| 2021 | 92.0 | 91.9 |
| 2022 | 87.5 | 87.4 |
| 2023 | 89.1 | 88.8 |
| 2024 | 95.4 | 96.4 |
Other services
- Dayton, OH
- Akron, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dayton, OH | Akron, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.5 | 95.4 |
| 2009 | 99.1 | 98.3 |
| 2010 | 98.7 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 98.1 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 97.8 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 95.9 |
| 2014 | 96.3 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 94.8 | 98.6 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 99.9 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2019 | 98.5 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| 2021 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2022 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2023 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2024 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,306 in Akron vs $1,320 in Dayton
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Dayton, OH
- Akron, OH
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Dayton, OH | Akron, OH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $726 | $723 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $739 | $736 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $741 | $735 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $743 | $742 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $759 | $739 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $768 | $753 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $769 | $754 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $757 | $753 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $776 | $767 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $792 | $778 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $803 | $776 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $796 | $774 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $808 | $785 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $829 | $791 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $833 | $792 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $835 | $796 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $845 | $813 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $860 | $822 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $877 | $829 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $878 | $825 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $895 | $839 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $917 | $865 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $925 | $871 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $934 | $885 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $954 | $907 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $989 | $951 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,025 | $972 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,040 | $985 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,060 | $1,011 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,096 | $1,057 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,120 | $1,073 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,118 | $1,087 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,129 | $1,088 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,159 | $1,131 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,181 | $1,140 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,186 | $1,144 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,207 | $1,164 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,222 | $1,185 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,238 | $1,206 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,238 | $1,203 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,250 | $1,219 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,273 | $1,229 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,285 | $1,258 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,282 | $1,246 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,291 | $1,273 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,308 | $1,295 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,320 | $1,306 | $1,932 |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.