Dayton, KY vs Buena Vista, VA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Buena Vista, VA has a modeled overall cost index 7.3% higher than Dayton, KY.

Dayton, KY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,290 / month
Buena Vista, VA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Dayton, KY and Buena Vista, VA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $641/month in Buena Vista, VA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,691 in Buena Vista, VA

Regional cost estimates: Dayton, KY uses Cincinnati, OH. Buena Vista, VA uses Richmond, VA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 7.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$641
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$7.7K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Dayton, KY

Population:6K
Cost Index:
81.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$195K

Buena Vista, VA

Population:7K
Cost Index:
87.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$188K

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Dayton, KY

The Bluegrass State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Buena Vista, VA

The Old Dominion State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dayton, KY vs Buena Vista, VA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 17.0%
Dayton, KY
$2,085
Buena Vista, VA
$2,439
Difference
$354
more
All Utilities
↑ 20.7%
Dayton, KY
$541
Buena Vista, VA
$654
Difference
$112
more
Other
↑ 4.4%
Dayton, KY
$1,791
Buena Vista, VA
$1,870
Difference
$79.55
more
Healthcare
↑ 9.5%
Dayton, KY
$657
Buena Vista, VA
$720
Difference
$62.64
more
Groceries
↑ 2.0%
Dayton, KY
$1,072
Buena Vista, VA
$1,093
Difference
$21.09
more
Transportation
↑ 0.9%
Dayton, KY
$1,355
Buena Vista, VA
$1,366
Difference
$11.59
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$910
To$900
↓ $10.00
1 Bed
From$1,000
To$950
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,040
↓ $250
3 Bed
From$1,700
To$1,450
↓ $250
Dayton, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/mo

Buena Vista, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $950–$950/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Dayton, KY
$8,141
Monthly in Buena Vista, VA
$641
Difference

Home Values

Dayton
Buena Vista
$195K
Median Value
$188K
↑ +0.8%
YoY Change
↑ +4.4%
↑ +21.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +44.6%

Homes in Buena Vista are 3% less expensive than Dayton

Calculate payment - DaytonCalculate payment - Buena Vista

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $868
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$72.29
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

Dayton, KY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kentucky State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.7%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,791/month
$105.5K

Buena Vista, VA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Virginia State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,718/month
$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Dayton, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Buena Vista, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Dayton
Buena Vista
52 Moderate
Air Quality
36 Good
44.8%
Good Air Days
79.2%
96 High
Climate Risk
78 Low
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
None
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
29 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
29 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days

Before moving from Dayton, KY to Buena Vista, VA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Buena Vista, VA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dayton, KY. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Dayton to Buena Vista moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Buena Vista, VA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dayton, KY vs Buena Vista, VA

How do the cost estimates for Dayton, KY and Buena Vista, VA compare?

Buena Vista, VA has a modeled overall cost index 7.3% higher than Dayton, KY. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Dayton, KY, the model estimates $157,691 in Buena Vista, VA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Dayton, KY and Buena Vista, VA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,290/month in Dayton, KY and $1,040/month in Buena Vista, VA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Kentucky and Virginia on TaxTakeHome.com

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