City comparison

Dayton, OH vs Sioux Falls, SD

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

Key findings

  • Prices in Dayton, OH are 2.3% higher than in Sioux Falls, SD. Someone earning $100,000 in Sioux Falls, SD would need about $102,300 in Dayton, OH to live the same way.
  • Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,009 a month in Dayton, OH and $986 in Sioux Falls, SD.
  • On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,968 a year higher in Dayton, OH than in Sioux Falls, SD.
  • For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.6% moving from Dayton, OH to Sioux Falls, SD ($110,401 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.4% in real buying power.
DaytonSioux Falls
Price level (U.S. = 100):Under 9292–9898–102102–108Over 108
  • Dayton, OH: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
  • Sioux Falls, SD: price level 90.6 (much cheaper)

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

Side by side

Dayton, OHSioux Falls, SD
Price level (U.S. = 100)292.790.6
$100,000 is worth, in the other city2$97,774 in Sioux Falls$102,276 in Dayton
Typical 1-bedroom rent3$1,009/mo$986/mo
Take-home on $100,00014,15,8$77,212$79,180
State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8$1,968 (OH)$0 (SD)
Rent burden on $100,00016%15%
Median pay, all jobs4$49,980$47,970
Federal locality pay area7Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OHRest of U.S.

Rent areas: Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA and Sioux Falls, SD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH and Sioux Falls, SD-MN.

What costs more or less

Dayton, OHSioux Falls, SD
Price level (U.S. = 100)DaytonSioux Falls
Housing (rent)72.777.6
Goods93.695.5
Utilities95.480.7
Other services98.991.9
Overall92.790.6
BEA Regional Price Parities2. Housing covers rents.

Moving with the same $100,000 salary

Dayton, OH → Sioux Falls, SD

Same pay goes further

Buying power +2.3%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,968/yr.

76 Strong offer

Sioux Falls, SD → Dayton, OH

Same pay buys less

Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$1,968/yr.

62 Fair offer

On the GS pay scale?

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

Grade5,2Dayton, OHSioux Falls, SDReal change, Dayton → Sioux Falls
GS-9 step 1$64,021$61,722−1.4%
GS-11 step 1$77,460$74,678−1.4%
GS-12 step 1$92,841$89,508−1.4%
GS-13 step 1$110,401$106,437−1.4%
GS-14 step 1$130,461$125,776−1.4%

Pay for common jobs

Median annual pay4Dayton, OHSioux Falls, SDSioux Falls pay in Dayton dollars
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$80,360$50,040$51,179 (−36.3%)
Software Developers$106,910$101,040$103,340 (−3.3%)
Accountants and Auditors$79,030$80,920$82,762 (+4.7%)
Registered Nurses$82,510$75,350$77,065 (−6.6%)

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

Check your own offer

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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.