Dayton vs Irvine
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Dayton
Irvine
The Verdict
Dayton is 55.1% less expensive than Irvine overall. A household earning $75,000 in Dayton would need approximately $166,875 in Irvine 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 Dayton has the same purchasing power as $166,875 in Irvine.
Conversely, $75,000 in Irvine equals $33,708 in Dayton.
Living in Dayton vs Irvine
Housing Costs
Dayton's housing index of 46 is lower Irvine's 294, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $1.1M. The $915,000 difference in home prices means roughly $59,472 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Dayton compared to $3,000/mo in Irvine, a monthly difference of $2,100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Dayton and 108 in Irvine. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Dayton vs $513/month in Irvine. Dayton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 109 in Dayton and 115 in Irvine. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Dayton vs $460 in Irvine. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 114 in Dayton and 109 in Irvine. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $43,500 in Dayton and $108,038 in Irvine. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $60,696 respectively. Irvine residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,015/month to housing in Dayton vs $2,521/month in Irvine. In Dayton, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Irvine, median rent of $3,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 248 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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