City Comparison

Daytona Beach vs Portland

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Daytona Beach

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

Portland

Maine
117
Above Average
$395,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$56,895
Median Income

The Verdict

18.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 18.8%, with Daytona Beach being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Daytona Beach has equivalent purchasing power to $92,368 in Portland.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
93
Daytona Beach
137
Portland
Groceries
104
Daytona Beach
107
Portland
Utilities
101
Daytona Beach
111
Portland
Transportation
102
Daytona Beach
98
Portland
Healthcare
99
Daytona Beach
110
Portland

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach has the same purchasing power as $92,368 in Portland.

Conversely, $75,000 in Portland equals $60,897 in Daytona Beach.

Living in Daytona Beach vs Portland

Housing Costs

Daytona Beach's housing index of 93 is lower Portland's 137, translating to median home prices of $288,000 vs $395,000. The $107,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,960 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach compared to $1,700/mo in Portland, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Daytona Beach and 107 in Portland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Daytona Beach vs $508/month in Portland. 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 111 in Portland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Daytona Beach vs $444 in Portland. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Daytona Beach and 110 in Portland. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $52,100 in Daytona Beach and $56,895 in Portland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,842 and $48,628 respectively. Daytona Beach residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,216/month to housing in Daytona Beach vs $1,328/month in Portland. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Portland, median rent of $1,700/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 44 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Daytona Beach is 18.8% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Daytona Beach has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $92,368 in Portland, based on the cost of living difference.
Daytona Beach's housing index is 93 with median homes at $288,000, while Portland's is 137 with median homes at $395,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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