City Comparison

Daytona Beach vs Huntsville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Daytona Beach

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

Huntsville

Alabama
91
Below Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$56,098
Median Income

The Verdict

4.4%

Living in Huntsville costs 4.4% less than Daytona Beach. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach, you would need $71,842 in Huntsville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
93
Daytona Beach
79
Huntsville
Groceries
104
Daytona Beach
96
Huntsville
Utilities
101
Daytona Beach
91
Huntsville
Transportation
102
Daytona Beach
98
Huntsville
Healthcare
99
Daytona Beach
93
Huntsville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach has the same purchasing power as $71,842 in Huntsville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Huntsville equals $78,297 in Daytona Beach.

Living in Daytona Beach vs Huntsville

Housing Costs

Daytona Beach's housing index of 93 is higher Huntsville's 79, translating to median home prices of $288,000 vs $260,000. The $28,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,824 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach compared to $1,200/mo in Huntsville, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Daytona Beach and 96 in Huntsville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Daytona Beach vs $456/month in Huntsville. Huntsville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Daytona Beach and 91 in Huntsville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Daytona Beach vs $364 in Huntsville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Daytona Beach and 93 in Huntsville. 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 $56,098 in Huntsville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,842 and $61,646 respectively. Huntsville 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 $1,309/month in Huntsville. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Huntsville, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 14 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Huntsville is 4.4% more affordable overall with an index of 91 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $71,842 in Huntsville, based on the cost of living difference.
Daytona Beach's housing index is 93 with median homes at $288,000, while Huntsville's is 79 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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