Daytona Beach vs Raleigh
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Daytona Beach
Raleigh
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 6.9%, with Daytona Beach being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Daytona Beach has equivalent purchasing power to $80,526 in Raleigh.
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 $80,526 in Raleigh.
Conversely, $75,000 in Raleigh equals $69,853 in Daytona Beach.
Living in Daytona Beach vs Raleigh
Housing Costs
Daytona Beach's housing index of 93 is lower Raleigh's 107, translating to median home prices of $288,000 vs $370,000. The $82,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,328 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach compared to $1,500/mo in Raleigh, a monthly difference of $150.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Daytona Beach and 100 in Raleigh. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Daytona Beach vs $475/month in Raleigh. 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 94 in Raleigh. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Daytona Beach vs $376 in Raleigh. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 99 in Daytona Beach and 108 in Raleigh. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $67,266 in Raleigh. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,842 and $65,947 respectively. Raleigh 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 $1,570/month in Raleigh. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Raleigh, median rent of $1,500/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
Moving & Relocation Resources
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