City Comparison

Dayton vs Newport News

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Dayton

Ohio
80
Very Affordable
$135,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$43,500
Median Income

Newport News

Virginia
92
Below Average
$261,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

The Verdict

13.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 13.0%, with Dayton being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Dayton has equivalent purchasing power to $86,250 in Newport News.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
46
Dayton
75
Newport News
Groceries
98
Dayton
99
Newport News
Utilities
109
Dayton
104
Newport News
Transportation
100
Dayton
96
Newport News
Healthcare
114
Dayton
111
Newport News

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Dayton has the same purchasing power as $86,250 in Newport News.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $65,217 in Dayton.

Living in Dayton vs Newport News

Housing Costs

Dayton's housing index of 46 is lower Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $261,000. The $126,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,196 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Dayton compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Dayton and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Dayton vs $470/month in Newport News. 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 109 in Dayton and 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Dayton vs $416 in Newport News. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 114 in Dayton and 111 in Newport News. 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 $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $75,652 respectively. Newport News 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 $1,624/month in Newport News. In Dayton, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dayton is 13.0% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Dayton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,250 in Newport News, based on the cost of living difference.
Dayton's housing index is 46 with median homes at $135,000, while Newport News's is 75 with median homes at $261,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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