Daytona Beach vs Rochester
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Daytona Beach
Rochester
The Verdict
Living in Rochester 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 Rochester.
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 $74,211 in Rochester.
Conversely, $75,000 in Rochester equals $75,798 in Daytona Beach.
Living in Daytona Beach vs Rochester
Housing Costs
Daytona Beach's housing index of 93 is lower Rochester's 95, translating to median home prices of $288,000 vs $345,000. The $57,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,708 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach compared to $1,275/mo in Rochester, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Daytona Beach and 103 in Rochester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Daytona Beach vs $489/month in Rochester. 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 Rochester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Daytona Beach vs $408 in Rochester. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 99 in Daytona Beach and 104 in Rochester. 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 $91,500 in Rochester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,842 and $97,340 respectively. Rochester 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 $2,135/month in Rochester. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Rochester, median rent of $1,275/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 5 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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