City Comparison

Athens vs Daytona Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Athens

Georgia
88
Below Average
$307,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$56,700
Median Income

Daytona Beach

Florida
95
Below Average
$288,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$52,100
Median Income

The Verdict

7.4%

Living in Athens costs 7.4% less than Daytona Beach. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Athens, you would need $80,966 in Daytona Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
78
Athens
93
Daytona Beach
Groceries
101
Athens
104
Daytona Beach
Utilities
101
Athens
101
Daytona Beach
Transportation
96
Athens
102
Daytona Beach
Healthcare
97
Athens
99
Daytona Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Athens has the same purchasing power as $80,966 in Daytona Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Daytona Beach equals $69,474 in Athens.

Living in Athens vs Daytona Beach

Housing Costs

Athens's housing index of 78 is lower Daytona Beach's 93, translating to median home prices of $307,000 vs $288,000. The $19,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,236 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Athens compared to $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Athens and 104 in Daytona Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Athens vs $494/month in Daytona Beach. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Athens and 101 in Daytona Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Athens vs $404 in Daytona Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Athens 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 $56,700 in Athens and $52,100 in Daytona Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,432 and $54,842 respectively. Athens residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,323/month to housing in Athens vs $1,216/month in Daytona Beach. In Athens, median rent of $1,200/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 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Athens is 7.4% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Athens has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $80,966 in Daytona Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Athens's housing index is 78 with median homes at $307,000, while Daytona Beach's is 93 with median homes at $288,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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