CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs Erie, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Erie
91
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Erie is slightly cheaper than Dayton — 1.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Dayton, you would need $78,500 in Erie. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing21.9%
Dayton
72.7
Erie
56.8
🛒 Groceries+7.6%
Dayton
93.6
Erie
100.7
🚗 Transportation1.3%
Dayton
103.9
Erie
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.3%
Dayton
94
Erie
92.8
Utilities+11.9%
Dayton
95.4
Erie
106.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Erie, PA
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Erie

Formula: salary × (91 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 0.9817. 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×

Erie, PA

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
56.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Dayton has 21.9% lower housing costs compared to Erie.

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

Erie, PA

Median Household Income
$60,700
Per Capita Income
$34,600
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
94,831
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationTechnologyRetail

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)

Erie, PA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.