City Comparison

Daytona Beach vs Ithaca

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Daytona Beach

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

Ithaca

New York
94
Below Average
$324,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$48,600
Median Income

The Verdict

1.1%

Living in Ithaca costs 1.1% less than Daytona Beach. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach, you would need $74,211 in Ithaca.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
93
Daytona Beach
117
Ithaca
Groceries
104
Daytona Beach
103
Ithaca
Utilities
101
Daytona Beach
102
Ithaca
Transportation
102
Daytona Beach
96
Ithaca
Healthcare
99
Daytona Beach
99
Ithaca

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach has the same purchasing power as $74,211 in Ithaca.

Conversely, $75,000 in Ithaca equals $75,798 in Daytona Beach.

Living in Daytona Beach vs Ithaca

Housing Costs

Daytona Beach's housing index of 93 is lower Ithaca's 117, translating to median home prices of $288,000 vs $324,000. The $36,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,340 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach compared to $1,475/mo in Ithaca, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Daytona Beach and 103 in Ithaca. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Daytona Beach vs $489/month in Ithaca. 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 101 in Daytona Beach and 102 in Ithaca. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Daytona Beach vs $408 in Ithaca. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Daytona Beach and 99 in Ithaca. 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 $48,600 in Ithaca. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,842 and $51,702 respectively. Daytona Beach residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,216/month to housing in Daytona Beach vs $1,134/month in Ithaca. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Ithaca, median rent of $1,475/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ithaca is 1.1% more affordable overall with an index of 94 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,211 in Ithaca, based on the cost of living difference.
Daytona Beach's housing index is 93 with median homes at $288,000, while Ithaca's is 117 with median homes at $324,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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