Abilene vs Daytona Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Abilene
Daytona Beach
The Verdict
Abilene is 15.8% less expensive than Daytona Beach overall. A household earning $75,000 in Abilene would need approximately $89,063 in Daytona Beach to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Abilene has the same purchasing power as $89,063 in Daytona Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Daytona Beach equals $63,158 in Abilene.
Living in Abilene vs Daytona Beach
Housing Costs
Abilene's housing index of 58 is lower Daytona Beach's 93, translating to median home prices of $179,000 vs $288,000. The $109,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Abilene compared to $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 91 in Abilene and 104 in Daytona Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $432/month in Abilene vs $494/month in Daytona Beach. Abilene offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $744/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Abilene and 101 in Daytona Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Abilene vs $404 in Daytona Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Abilene and 99 in Daytona Beach. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $62,600 in Abilene and $52,100 in Daytona Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $78,250 and $54,842 respectively. Abilene residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,461/month to housing in Abilene vs $1,216/month in Daytona Beach. In Abilene, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 35 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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