City Comparison

Dayton vs Roseville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Dayton

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

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

The Verdict

42.4%

Living in Dayton costs 42.4% less than Roseville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Dayton, you would need $130,313 in Roseville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
46
Dayton
179
Roseville
Groceries
98
Dayton
105
Roseville
Utilities
109
Dayton
163
Roseville
Transportation
100
Dayton
134
Roseville
Healthcare
114
Dayton
106
Roseville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Dayton has the same purchasing power as $130,313 in Roseville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roseville equals $43,165 in Dayton.

Living in Dayton vs Roseville

Housing Costs

Dayton's housing index of 46 is lower Roseville's 179, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $625,000. The $490,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,848 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Dayton compared to $2,000/mo in Roseville, a monthly difference of $1,100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Dayton and 105 in Roseville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Dayton vs $499/month in Roseville. Dayton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 109 in Dayton and 163 in Roseville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Dayton vs $652 in Roseville. 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 114 in Dayton and 106 in Roseville. 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 $142,800 in Roseville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $102,734 respectively. Roseville 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 $3,332/month in Roseville. In Dayton, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 133 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dayton is 42.4% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Dayton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $130,313 in Roseville, based on the cost of living difference.
Dayton's housing index is 46 with median homes at $135,000, while Roseville's is 179 with median homes at $625,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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