Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Dayton
Phoenix and Dayton
Photo: Tysto / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Dayton are above the US rate in this release, 8.8 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Phoenix to Dayton
In 2022-2023, 114 households filed a move from Phoenix to Dayton (about 198 people, average adjusted gross income $66,202). 74 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,018 in Dayton. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Dayton has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Dayton is 92% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Phoenix.
Dayton averages 190 sunny days, with July highs around 84°F and January nights around 27°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Dayton and 26 in Phoenix.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 114 households moved Phoenix → Dayton (about 198 people, average AGI $66,202). 74 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Phoenix and Dayton changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,932 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $3,750–$7,000
- Container or pod
- $2,700–$5,000
- Rent a truck
- $1,650–$3,100
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Dig into Dayton
Questions
Is Dayton cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
Yes. Dayton leaves about $256 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,018 in Dayton.
Does Dayton have state income tax?
Dayton is in Ohio, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 2.00%.
Did people actually move from Phoenix to Dayton?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.