$80K in Boise = $63,238 in Dayton

Your $80K salary in Boise (COL 105) has the same purchasing power as $63,238 in Dayton (COL 83). Dayton is cheaper — your money goes 21% further there.

$80K in Boise, ID
$4,670/mo take-home
Rent: $1,600/mo (34% of take-home)
Manageable
$63,238/yr in Dayton, OH
$3,813/mo take-home
Rent: $1,100/mo (29% of take-home)
Manageable

Budget breakdown — $80K in both cities

What $80K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Boise
$80K
Dayton
$80K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$4,670$4,823
1BR rent$1,600$1,100
Groceries$372$361
Transport$45$60
Utilities$145$162
Internet$60$58
Left after essentials$2,448/month$3,082/month
To match your Boise purchasing power in Dayton, you'd need to earn $63,238/year (21% less than $80K). At that salary, you'd have $2,072/mo left after essentials — vs $2,448/mo in Boise.

Frequently asked questions

What is $80K in Boise equivalent to in Dayton?

$80K in Boise (COL index 105) has the same purchasing power as $63,238 in Dayton (COL index 83). That's 21% less than your current salary.

If I move from Boise to Dayton keeping my $80K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $80K after moving to Dayton, you'd have $634 more per month after core expenses — because Dayton is cheaper than Boise.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $80K × (83 ÷ 105) = $63,238. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Boise to Dayton

$40K → $31,619$50K → $39,524$60K → $47,429$75K → $59,286$100K → $79,048$120K → $94,857$150K → $118,571
$80K in Dayton → BoiseMoving from Boise to DaytonBoise vs Dayton — full comparisonCan I afford Boise vs Dayton on $80K?

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only