Colorado Springs vs Dayton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Colorado Springs
Dayton
The Verdict
Dayton is 31.3% less expensive than Colorado Springs overall. A household earning $75,000 in Colorado Springs would need approximately $57,143 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 Colorado Springs has the same purchasing power as $57,143 in Dayton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Dayton equals $98,438 in Colorado Springs.
Living in Colorado Springs vs Dayton
Housing Costs
Colorado Springs's housing index of 115 is higher Dayton's 46, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $135,000. The $245,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,924 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Colorado Springs compared to $900/mo in Dayton, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Colorado Springs and 98 in Dayton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Colorado Springs 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 93 in Colorado Springs and 109 in Dayton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Colorado Springs vs $436 in Dayton. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Colorado Springs and 114 in Dayton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $64,712 in Colorado Springs and $43,500 in Dayton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,630 and $54,375 respectively. Colorado Springs residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,510/month to housing in Colorado Springs vs $1,015/month in Dayton. In Colorado Springs, median rent of $1,500/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 69 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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