City comparison

Dayton, OH vs Peoria, IL

What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.

Key findings

  • Prices in Dayton, OH are 1.6% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $101,600 in Dayton, OH to live the same way.
  • Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,009 a month in Dayton, OH versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 16% of take-home pay in Dayton, OH and 13% in Peoria, IL.
  • On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,838 a year higher in Peoria, IL than in Dayton, OH.
  • For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.6% moving from Dayton, OH to Peoria, IL ($110,401 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.0% in real buying power.
DaytonPeoria
Price level (U.S. = 100):Under 9292–9898–102102–108Over 108
  • Dayton, OH: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
  • Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)

Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.

Side by side

Dayton, OHPeoria, IL
Price level (U.S. = 100)292.791.2
$100,000 is worth, in the other city2$98,422 in Peoria$101,604 in Dayton
Typical 1-bedroom rent3$1,009/mo$818/mo
Take-home on $100,00014,15,8$77,212$74,375
State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8$1,968 (OH)$4,805 (IL)
Rent burden on $100,00016%13%
Median pay, all jobs4$49,980$49,590
Federal locality pay area7Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OHRest of U.S.

Rent areas: Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH and Peoria, IL.

What costs more or less

Dayton, OHPeoria, IL
Price level (U.S. = 100)DaytonPeoria
Housing (rent)72.763.8
Goods93.693.6
Utilities95.490.5
Other services98.999.6
Overall92.791.2
BEA Regional Price Parities2. Housing covers rents.

Moving with the same $100,000 salary

Dayton, OH → Peoria, IL

Roughly even

Buying power +1.6%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$2,838/yr.

74 Strong offer

Peoria, IL → Dayton, OH

Roughly even

Buying power −1.6%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$2,838/yr.

64 Fair offer

On the GS pay scale?

Dayton, OH is in the Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH pay area; Peoria, IL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Dayton, OH to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.

Grade5,2Dayton, OHPeoria, ILReal change, Dayton → Peoria
GS-9 step 1$64,021$61,722−2.0%
GS-11 step 1$77,460$74,678−2.0%
GS-12 step 1$92,841$89,508−2.0%
GS-13 step 1$110,401$106,437−2.0%
GS-14 step 1$130,461$125,776−2.0%

Pay for common jobs

Median annual pay4Dayton, OHPeoria, ILPeoria pay in Dayton dollars
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$80,360$57,440$58,361 (−27.4%)
Software Developers$106,910$130,590$132,684 (+24.1%)
Accountants and Auditors$79,030$79,540$80,816 (+2.3%)
Registered Nurses$82,510$81,010$82,309 (−0.2%)

"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.

Check your own offer

Loading calculator…

Taxes are estimates for a single filer taking the standard deduction; city and county income taxes are not included. See the methodology.

Notes & Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, Metropolitan Statistical Area population estimates (Vintage 2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by MSA (MARPP), all items (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  3. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents, 1-bedroom (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, metropolitan areas (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  5. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule (GS) pay rates with locality pay, 2026 (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  6. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Locality codes used in the 2026 GS pay spreadsheet (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  7. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 Locality Pay Area Definitions (counties in each pay area) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  8. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  9. U.S. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file: states, 1:20,000,000 (2024) (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  10. U.S. Census Bureau, Gazetteer file: core based statistical areas (2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table C24010 (occupation of employed residents) by ZIP code area (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  12. U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Tabulation Area relationship files (2020; Connecticut 2022) and Gazetteer locations (2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  13. U.S. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary files (ZIP code areas 2020; counties and states 2024) and TIGER/Line primary roads (2024) (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  14. Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 tax brackets and standard deduction) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  15. Internal Revenue Service, Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide for 2026 (Social Security and Medicare) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  16. U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, O*NET 31.0 Database: Job Titles (used under CC BY 4.0; O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA) (2026). Retrieved 2026-10-14.