Charleston vs Daytona Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Charleston
Daytona Beach
The Verdict
Charleston is 10.5% less expensive than Daytona Beach overall. A household earning $75,000 in Charleston would need approximately $83,824 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 Charleston has the same purchasing power as $83,824 in Daytona Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Daytona Beach equals $67,105 in Charleston.
Living in Charleston vs Daytona Beach
Housing Costs
Charleston's housing index of 62 is lower Daytona Beach's 93, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $288,000. The $153,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,948 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Charleston compared to $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach, a monthly difference of $500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Charleston and 104 in Daytona Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Charleston vs $494/month in Daytona Beach. Charleston offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Charleston and 101 in Daytona Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Charleston vs $404 in Daytona Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 91 in Charleston 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 $42,034 in Charleston and $52,100 in Daytona Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,452 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 $981/month to housing in Charleston vs $1,216/month in Daytona Beach. In Charleston, median rent of $850/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 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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