Dayton, OH at a glance
Median household income
$45,247$3,771 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Dayton, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Dayton, OH? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $928 | $11,136 | $37,120 | 24.6% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,009 | $12,108 | $40,360 | 26.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,273 | $15,276 | $50,920 | 33.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,651 | $19,812 | $66,040 | 43.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,817 | $21,804 | $72,680 | 48.2% |
What a typical income covers in Dayton, OH
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $45,247 a year ($3,771 a month before tax).
What $45,247 leaves after Ohio taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Ohio tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Ohio
Living in Dayton, OH: common questions
What is the median household income in Dayton, OH?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Dayton, OH is $45,247 per year (approximately $3,771 per month).
What is the average rent in Dayton, OH?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $928 for a studio, $1,009 for one bedroom, $1,273 for two, $1,651 for three and $1,817 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Dayton, OH expensive to live in?
Prices there run 7.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 92.7, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Dayton, OH?
To keep a $1,273 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $50,920 a year, or $4,243 a month. That is 113% of what the typical household in Dayton, OH earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Dayton, OH?
On the local median income of $45,247 ($3,771 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $1,885 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,131 for everything else and $754 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,273 takes 68% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Dayton, OH?
Homes in Ohio paid 19.2¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $173. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.