CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs Gainesville, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
FL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Dayton is slightly cheaper than Gainesville — 4.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Dayton, you would need $83,400 in Gainesville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+27.9%
Dayton
72.7
Gainesville
93
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Dayton
93.6
Gainesville
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Dayton
103.9
Gainesville
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Dayton
94
Gainesville
93.9
Utilities7.5%
Dayton
95.4
Gainesville
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Gainesville, FL
$83,400
$3,400 more needed in Gainesville

Formula: salary × (96.7 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 1.0431. 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×

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Gainesville has 27.9% 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

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

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)

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.