Daytona Beach vs Mesa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Daytona Beach
Mesa
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 4.0%, with Daytona Beach being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Daytona Beach has equivalent purchasing power to $78,158 in Mesa.
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 $78,158 in Mesa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Mesa equals $71,970 in Daytona Beach.
Living in Daytona Beach vs Mesa
Housing Costs
Daytona Beach's housing index of 93 is lower Mesa's 98, translating to median home prices of $288,000 vs $350,000. The $62,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,032 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach compared to $1,350/mo in Mesa, a monthly difference of $0.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Daytona Beach and 99 in Mesa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Daytona Beach vs $470/month in Mesa. 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 96 in Mesa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Daytona Beach vs $384 in Mesa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 99 in Daytona Beach and 95 in Mesa. 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 $60,234 in Mesa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,842 and $60,842 respectively. Mesa 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 $1,405/month in Mesa. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Mesa, median rent of $1,350/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 5 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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