City Comparison

Boulder vs Daytona Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Boulder

Colorado
148
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$2,300/mo
Median Rent
$73,123
Median Income

Daytona Beach

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

The Verdict

55.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 55.8%, with Daytona Beach being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Boulder has equivalent purchasing power to $48,142 in Daytona Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
230
Boulder
93
Daytona Beach
Groceries
107
Boulder
104
Daytona Beach
Utilities
94
Boulder
101
Daytona Beach
Transportation
103
Boulder
102
Daytona Beach
Healthcare
104
Boulder
99
Daytona Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Boulder has the same purchasing power as $48,142 in Daytona Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Daytona Beach equals $116,842 in Boulder.

Living in Boulder vs Daytona Beach

Housing Costs

Boulder's housing index of 230 is higher Daytona Beach's 93, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $288,000. The $462,000 difference in home prices means roughly $30,036 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,300/mo in Boulder compared to $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach, a monthly difference of $950.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Boulder and 104 in Daytona Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Boulder 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 94 in Boulder and 101 in Daytona Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Boulder vs $404 in Daytona Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Boulder 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 $73,123 in Boulder and $52,100 in Daytona Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,407 and $54,842 respectively. Daytona Beach residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,706/month to housing in Boulder vs $1,216/month in Daytona Beach. In Boulder, median rent of $2,300/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 137 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Daytona Beach is 55.8% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 148.
A $75,000 salary in Boulder has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $48,142 in Daytona Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Boulder's housing index is 230 with median homes at $750,000, while Daytona Beach's is 93 with median homes at $288,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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