2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Dayton, OH vs Columbus, OH

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or is it cheaper to live in Dayton?
- Columbus is 14.5% more expensive than Dayton.

Which city has more affordable housing, Columbus or Dayton?
- Columbus housing costs are 236.2% more expensive than Dayton housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Dayton or is Health Care more affordable in Columbus.
- Health related expenses are 0.9% less in Columbus.
 Dayton, OHColumbus, OHUnited States
 Overall  Unlock91.4100
 Food & Groceries93.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock89.5100
 Housing21.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$220,100$338,100
 Utilities107  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock90.1100
 Miscellaneous107.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Dayton    32 Reviews

Over 2 years ago

I've lived in Dayton Ohio for over 7 years. I live in a historic district within a short walk to Oregon district and down town. The summer concert series at Levitt  More

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Over 7 years ago

Spent years assigned at WPAFB (in Mar 90 - Aug 95') and lived in Oakwood for 5 years. We loved it and have nothing negative to say. Locals were friendly and interested  More

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I spent four and a half miserable years here. Essentially, your only employment opportunities are in healthcare or at the base. I worked at the base; they were  More

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Reviews for Columbus    156 Reviews

Ellenore · 
Over 2 years ago

I've lived here for my whole life! Awesome place to  More

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We lived in Columbus from 2014-2022, originally from Denver work has taken us to Charlotte, NC, Austin and Atlanta for perspective. One of our biggest reasons for  More

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Over 3 years ago

The city has nice areas and old/ugly areas that look like the remains of a civil war. The nice areas are pretty. Traffic isn't bad compared to Cali but the summer  More

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