Dayton vs Yuma
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Dayton
Yuma
The Verdict
Dayton is 13.0% less expensive than Yuma overall. A household earning $75,000 in Dayton would need approximately $86,250 in Yuma 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 $86,250 in Yuma.
Conversely, $75,000 in Yuma equals $65,217 in Dayton.
Living in Dayton vs Yuma
Housing Costs
Dayton's housing index of 46 is lower Yuma's 82, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $284,000. The $149,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,684 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Dayton compared to $1,100/mo in Yuma, a monthly difference of $200.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Dayton and 101 in Yuma. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Dayton vs $480/month in Yuma. 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 102 in Yuma. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Dayton vs $408 in Yuma. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 114 in Dayton and 87 in Yuma. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-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 $54,100 in Yuma. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $58,804 respectively. Yuma 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 $1,262/month in Yuma. In Dayton, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Yuma, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 36 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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