in our guides
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Affordable cities for outdoor lovers
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Best mid-sized US cities
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Best cities to leave San Francisco for
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Most vibrant and affordable cities
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Best affordable cities to retire
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Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors
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Cheapest cities in America
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Best cities to leave New York for
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Best cities to leave Los Angeles for
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Affordable alternatives to Denver
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Best cities to live in the Midwest
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Best cities for a $75k salary
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Best cities to buy a home
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Most affordable cities to buy a home
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Affordable alternatives to Boise
read the guide01 · the verdict
the verdict
lighter monthly cost than San Francisco
In Dayton, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
02 · the money
a quick ledger.
$1,321/mo
58% cheaper than San Francisco(vs $3,146/mo)
3.99%
$442/mo less in state tax than San Francisco
vs 9.3% in San Francisco
$6,680/mo
$2,268 more than San Francisco
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$139k
89% cheaper than San Francisco
vs $1239k in San Francisco
808k
vs 4.6M in San Francisco
03 · the life
field notes, weather & such.
171
pleasant days a year, in dayton.
San Francisco gets 312 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine. A real winter, not a brutal one: 34 days under 20°, vs 0 in San Francisco.
But the calendar thins out: San Francisco stays 18.4× busier.
62/100
25% lower than San Francisco
vs 83/100 in San Francisco
Closest outdoor draw: Sycamore State Park, 9.9 mi.
89/100
10% lower than San Francisco
vs 99/100 in San Francisco
16
86% fewer than San Francisco
vs 111 nonstops in San Francisco
04 · see also
if dayton appeals, also worth a look:

