City Comparison

Buffalo vs Daytona Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Buffalo

New York
93
Below Average
$175,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$40,858
Median Income

Daytona Beach

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

The Verdict

2.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 2.1%, with Buffalo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Buffalo has equivalent purchasing power to $76,613 in Daytona Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
72
Buffalo
93
Daytona Beach
Groceries
101
Buffalo
104
Daytona Beach
Utilities
107
Buffalo
101
Daytona Beach
Transportation
101
Buffalo
102
Daytona Beach
Healthcare
99
Buffalo
99
Daytona Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Buffalo has the same purchasing power as $76,613 in Daytona Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Daytona Beach equals $73,421 in Buffalo.

Living in Buffalo vs Daytona Beach

Housing Costs

Buffalo's housing index of 72 is lower Daytona Beach's 93, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $288,000. The $113,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,344 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Buffalo compared to $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Buffalo and 104 in Daytona Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Buffalo 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 107 in Buffalo and 101 in Daytona Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Buffalo vs $404 in Daytona Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Buffalo 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 $40,858 in Buffalo and $52,100 in Daytona Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,933 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 $953/month to housing in Buffalo vs $1,216/month in Daytona Beach. In Buffalo, median rent of $1,000/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 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Buffalo is 2.1% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Buffalo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $76,613 in Daytona Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Buffalo's housing index is 72 with median homes at $175,000, while Daytona Beach's is 93 with median homes at $288,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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