Daytona Beach vs Gulfport
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Daytona Beach
Gulfport
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 14.5%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Daytona Beach has equivalent purchasing power to $65,526 in Gulfport.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach has the same purchasing power as $65,526 in Gulfport.
Conversely, $75,000 in Gulfport equals $85,843 in Daytona Beach.
Living in Daytona Beach vs Gulfport
Housing Costs
Daytona Beach's housing index of 93 is higher Gulfport's 55, translating to median home prices of $288,000 vs $185,000. The $103,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,696 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach compared to $1,000/mo in Gulfport, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Daytona Beach and 95 in Gulfport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Daytona Beach vs $451/month in Gulfport. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Daytona Beach and 99 in Gulfport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Daytona Beach vs $396 in Gulfport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 99 in Daytona Beach and 98 in Gulfport. 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 $52,100 in Daytona Beach and $48,000 in Gulfport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,842 and $57,831 respectively. Gulfport residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,216/month to housing in Daytona Beach vs $1,120/month in Gulfport. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 38 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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