Dayton vs Daytona Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Dayton
Daytona Beach
The Verdict
Dayton is 15.8% less expensive than Daytona Beach overall. A household earning $75,000 in Dayton 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 Dayton has the same purchasing power as $89,063 in Daytona Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Daytona Beach equals $63,158 in Dayton.
Living in Dayton vs Daytona Beach
Housing Costs
Dayton's housing index of 46 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: $900/mo in Dayton compared to $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach, a monthly difference of $450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Dayton and 104 in Daytona Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Dayton vs $494/month in Daytona Beach. Dayton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 109 in Dayton and 101 in Daytona Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Dayton vs $404 in Daytona Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 114 in Dayton and 99 in Daytona Beach. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $43,500 in Dayton and $52,100 in Daytona Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 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 $1,015/month to housing in Dayton vs $1,216/month in Daytona Beach. In Dayton, median rent of $900/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 47 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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