City Comparison

Dayton vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Dayton

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

Warwick

Rhode Island
106
Above Average
$413,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$74,600
Median Income

The Verdict

24.5%

Dayton is 24.5% less expensive than Warwick overall. A household earning $75,000 in Dayton would need approximately $99,375 in Warwick to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
46
Dayton
127
Warwick
Groceries
98
Dayton
102
Warwick
Utilities
109
Dayton
112
Warwick
Transportation
100
Dayton
105
Warwick
Healthcare
114
Dayton
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Dayton has the same purchasing power as $99,375 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $56,604 in Dayton.

Living in Dayton vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Dayton's housing index of 46 is lower Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $413,000. The $278,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,072 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Dayton compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Dayton and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Dayton vs $485/month in Warwick. 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 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Dayton vs $448 in Warwick. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 114 in Dayton and 103 in Warwick. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $43,500 in Dayton and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $70,377 respectively. Warwick 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 $1,741/month in Warwick. In Dayton, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Warwick, median rent of $1,425/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 81 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dayton is 24.5% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Dayton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $99,375 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Dayton's housing index is 46 with median homes at $135,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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