Ann Arbor vs Dayton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Ann Arbor
Dayton
The Verdict
Dayton is 42.5% less expensive than Ann Arbor overall. A household earning $75,000 in Ann Arbor would need approximately $52,632 in Dayton to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Ann Arbor has the same purchasing power as $52,632 in Dayton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Dayton equals $106,875 in Ann Arbor.
Living in Ann Arbor vs Dayton
Housing Costs
Ann Arbor's housing index of 135 is higher Dayton's 46, translating to median home prices of $400,000 vs $135,000. The $265,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,220 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Ann Arbor compared to $900/mo in Dayton, a monthly difference of $700.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Ann Arbor and 98 in Dayton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Ann Arbor vs $466/month in Dayton. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Ann Arbor and 109 in Dayton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Ann Arbor vs $436 in Dayton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Ann Arbor and 114 in Dayton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $65,024 in Ann Arbor and $43,500 in Dayton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,039 and $54,375 respectively. Ann Arbor residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,517/month to housing in Ann Arbor vs $1,015/month in Dayton. In Ann Arbor, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Dayton, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 89 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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