City Comparison

Daytona Beach vs Madison

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Daytona Beach

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

Madison

Wisconsin
106
Above Average
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$67,565
Median Income

The Verdict

10.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 10.4%, with Daytona Beach being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Daytona Beach has equivalent purchasing power to $83,684 in Madison.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
93
Daytona Beach
115
Madison
Groceries
104
Daytona Beach
101
Madison
Utilities
101
Daytona Beach
97
Madison
Transportation
102
Daytona Beach
103
Madison
Healthcare
99
Daytona Beach
105
Madison

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach has the same purchasing power as $83,684 in Madison.

Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $67,217 in Daytona Beach.

Living in Daytona Beach vs Madison

Housing Costs

Daytona Beach's housing index of 93 is lower Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $288,000 vs $340,000. The $52,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,384 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Daytona Beach and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Daytona Beach vs $480/month in Madison. 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 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Daytona Beach vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Daytona Beach and 105 in Madison. 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 $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,842 and $63,741 respectively. Madison 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 $1,577/month in Madison. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Daytona Beach is 10.4% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,684 in Madison, based on the cost of living difference.
Daytona Beach's housing index is 93 with median homes at $288,000, while Madison's is 115 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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