Salary Comparison
Installation: Mesa vs Dayton
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Mesa, AZ
$51,166/yr
Dayton, OH
$43,087/yr
Our recommendation: Dayton, OH
Dayton offers $89 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Mesa
Dayton
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$51,166
$43,087
+$8,079
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,113
$2,621
+$492
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
94
72
+22 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,518
$1,937
+$581
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,420
$980
+$440
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$595
$684
$89
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.24×
1.35×
-0.11×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
4/10 (Tight)
5/10 (Tight)
-1
A vs B
Mesa — Full Details
Dayton — Full Details
Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.