Daytona Beach vs Wilmington

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 $82,105 in Wilmington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $68,510 in Daytona Beach.

Living in Daytona Beach vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Daytona Beach's housing index of 93 is lower Wilmington's 104, translating to median home prices of $288,000 vs $235,000. The $53,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,444 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Daytona Beach compared to $1,200/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Daytona Beach and 103 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Daytona Beach vs $489/month in Wilmington. 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 106 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Daytona Beach vs $424 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Daytona Beach and 106 in Wilmington. 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 $46,520 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,842 and $44,731 respectively. Daytona Beach residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,216/month to housing in Daytona Beach vs $1,085/month in Wilmington. In Daytona Beach, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 11 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving & Relocation Resources

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