Bethlehem vs Dayton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bethlehem
Dayton
The Verdict
Dayton is 21.3% less expensive than Bethlehem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bethlehem would need approximately $61,856 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 Bethlehem has the same purchasing power as $61,856 in Dayton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Dayton equals $90,938 in Bethlehem.
Living in Bethlehem vs Dayton
Housing Costs
Bethlehem's housing index of 110 is higher Dayton's 46, translating to median home prices of $258,000 vs $135,000. The $123,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,992 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Bethlehem compared to $900/mo in Dayton, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Bethlehem and 98 in Dayton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Bethlehem 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 102 in Bethlehem and 109 in Dayton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Bethlehem vs $436 in Dayton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 83 in Bethlehem and 114 in Dayton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 31-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $62,600 in Bethlehem and $43,500 in Dayton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,536 and $54,375 respectively. Bethlehem residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,461/month to housing in Bethlehem vs $1,015/month in Dayton. In Bethlehem, median rent of $1,250/mo fits within this budget. In Dayton, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 64 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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