CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Lawrence is slightly cheaper than Dayton — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Dayton, you would need $77,800 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing1.5%
Dayton
72.7
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Dayton
93.6
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation5.2%
Dayton
103.9
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare5.2%
Dayton
94
Lawrence
89.1
Utilities6.4%
Dayton
95.4
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$77,800
$2,200 less needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 0.9730. 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×

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Dayton has 1.5% lower housing costs compared to Lawrence.

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

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)

Lawrence, KS
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.