Florida · SouthAffordable CityUpdated May 2026

Cost of Living in Daytona Beach, FL

By Sarah Chen · Reviewed by James Okafor · Updated May 2026

Detailed cost data for 62 topics across 6 categories — from rent and groceries to business startup costs and professional salaries.

Quick Compare — How Daytona Beach stacks up
If you earnin, you'll need
$50,267
in Daytona Beach, FL to match the same purchasing power
That's $49,733 (-50%) vs. New York
Full side-by-side →
Cost Index
94
6% below national average
100 = national baseline
79K
Population
$52K
Median Income
$1,328/mo
Avg Rent (1BR)
$3,814/mo
Living Cost (Single)

Direct Answer

Daytona Beach, FL has a CostOfCity index of 94, which is 6% below the national baseline. Average modeled rent is $1,328/month and the single-adult living cost estimate is $3,814/month.

Cost index
94
Affordable City; 100 is national baseline
Population
79K
Official population benchmark
Median income
$52K
Official household income benchmark
Priority pages
9
Rent, salary, budget, vehicle, retirement, and comparisons
✍️ Reviewed by James Okafor, Editor-in-Chief & Consumer Finance Editor📅 Last verified: May 2026
BLSCensusHUD

How to Use This City Page

Start with rent and monthly budget, then compare salary-needed before making a relocation decision.
Use the cost index as a directional signal; neighborhood rent and commute costs can change the answer materially.
Review cheaper alternatives and nearby city comparisons if Daytona Beach is above your target budget.
Use official/hybrid/model labels and the methodology page to understand where each estimate comes from.

Cost of Living in Daytona Beach: The Full Picture

How does Daytona Beach compare to the rest of America? With a population of 73,000 and an economy built on a distribution-center economy where warehouse jobs and last-mile logistics keep employment steady, this FL smaller city has a cost profile that's distinctly its own. A warm-weather lifestyle that includes year-round outdoor activities, from fishing to football tailgates. The 62 categories below translate these broad dynamics into specific dollar figures you can plan around.

B+
Overall
B+
Housing
B
Food
B+
Healthcare
B
Transport
B+
Utilities

Daytona Beach Cost Index by Category

Each bar shows how the Daytona Beach cost index for that category compares to the US national baseline of 100.

Cost index vs national average — Daytona BeachCost-of-living index for Daytona Beach versus the US national average (baseline 100). Daytona Beach overall sits at 94.Cost Index vs U.S. AvgNational baseline = 10050100150Daytona Beach OverallDaytona Beach Overall: index 94 (-6 vs national average)94 (-6)HousingHousing: index 91 (-9 vs national average)91 (-9)FoodFood: index 95 (-5 vs national average)95 (-5)HealthcareHealthcare: index 90 (-10 vs national average)90 (-10)TransportTransport: index 98 (-2 vs national average)98 (-2)UtilitiesUtilities: index 93 (-7 vs national average)93 (-7)ServicesServices: index 94 (-6 vs national average)94 (-6)
Each row shows the Daytona Beach cost index for that category vs the national baseline of 100. Bars to the right of the dashed line indicate above-average costs; bars to the left, below-average.
💼 Economy

Daytona Beach has a university-anchored economy where research parks and student spending stabilize local markets

🏠 Housing

The housing market features a balanced market where patient buyers find deals and sellers price realistically

🌤️ Climate & Lifestyle

The subtropical climate keeps construction crews working year-round, which helps with scheduling but doesn't reduce labor costs.. The lifestyle here is characterized by A warm-weather lifestyle that includes year-round outdoor activities, from fishing to football tailgates..

💡 The Bottom Line

Good news for your wallet: Daytona Beach's cost index of 94 means you'll pay 6% less than the national average. That kind of savings compounds across every monthly expense.

💰 Purchasing Power in Daytona Beach

$50K salary
≈ $53K
+$3K real value
$75K salary
≈ $80K
+$5K real value
$100K salary
≈ $106K
+$6K real value
$150K salary
≈ $160K
+$10K real value

Purchasing power adjusted to national average baseline. In Daytona Beach, your dollar buys 6% more than the national average.

🔺 Where Daytona Beach Costs More

💡 Utility Costs$282+13%
☀️ Solar Panel Installation$28K+12%
🏥 Health Insurance$664+11%
🚪 Garage Door Repair$414+10%
🏡 Home Insurance$2K+9%

🔽 Where Daytona Beach Costs Less

❄️ HVAC Installation$5K-32%
⚖️ Workers Comp Lawyer$6K-30%
💪 Start a Gym$197K-28%
🧺 Start a Laundromat$256K-27%
⚖️ Bankruptcy Lawyer$3K-27%

💰 Salary Landscape

🔌 Electrician Salary$68,538/yr+10%
🦷 Dentist Salary$179,370/yr0%
👮 Police Officer Salary$62,008/yr-2%
🔧 Plumber Salary$55,086/yr-8%
👩‍⚕️ Registered Nurse Salary$68,310/yr-9%
🏥 Physical Therapist Salary$75,119/yr-12%
🧮 Accountant Salary$56,289/yr-21%
💻 Software Developer Salary$84,298/yr-23%📚 Teacher Salary$40,599/yr-26%
🏘️ Real Estate Agent Salary$54,134/yr-30%

vs national average · higher = better

Monthly Living Expenses in Daytona Beach

What it actually costs to live in Daytona Beach each month — from tight budgets to comfortable lifestyles.

LifestyleSingle PersonCoupleFamily of 4
🟡Tight / Frugal$2,050/mo$3,550/mo$4,700/mo
🟢Comfortable$3,300/mo$5,450/mo$7,050/mo
🟣Generous$5,150/mo$8,450/mo$11,300/mo

Estimates include housing, food, transportation, utilities, insurance, and discretionary spending. Based on Daytona Beach's cost index of 94 applied to national spending surveys.

🏘️ Neighborhood Cost Variation

Within Daytona Beach, costs can vary by 25-40% depending on the neighborhood. Downtown and waterfront areas typically command the highest premiums, while suburbs provide genuine savings, often 15-20% below the metro average.

Daytona Beach vs U.S. Average Cost of Living

Category-by-category affordability grades — based on deviation from the national average.

Grades: A+/A = very affordable · B = average · C/D = expensive · For salaries, higher = better

🏠 Home Services in Daytona Beach

What contractors charge for the most common repairs, installations, and remodels

🏠

Roof Replacement

-23%
$4K – $9K
vs nat'l avg: $9K
❄️

HVAC Installation

-32%
$3K – $7K
vs nat'l avg: $7K
🔧

Plumbing Services

-11%
$156 – $402
vs nat'l avg: $313

Electrical Work

-24%
$152 – $381
vs nat'l avg: $350
🍳

Kitchen Remodel

+1%
$15K – $46K
vs nat'l avg: $30K
🚿

Bathroom Remodel

-17%
$5K – $15K
vs nat'l avg: $12K
🎨

House Painting

-24%
$2K – $6K
vs nat'l avg: $5K
🪵

Flooring Installation

-13%
$1K – $4K
vs nat'l avg: $3K
🌿

Landscaping

-1%
$1K – $5K
vs nat'l avg: $3K
🏗️

Fence Installation

+2%
$2K – $6K
vs nat'l avg: $4K
🪟

Window Replacement

-26%
$3K – $9K
vs nat'l avg: $8K
☀️

Solar Panel Installation

+12%
$17K – $39K
vs nat'l avg: $25K
🚿

Water Heater Replacement

-11%
$708 – $3K
vs nat'l avg: $2K
🏡

Deck Building

-24%
$4K – $15K
vs nat'l avg: $13K
🏊

Pool Installation

-22%
$20K – $63K
vs nat'l avg: $53K
🌳

Tree Removal

+6%
$423 – $2K
vs nat'l avg: $1K
🚪

Garage Door Repair

+10%
$165 – $662
vs nat'l avg: $375

💼 Business Startup Costs in Daytona Beach

Full startup cost breakdowns — from lease deposits to working capital

🍽️

Start a Restaurant

+1%
$177K – $759K
vs nat'l avg: $463K

Start a Coffee Shop

-20%
$64K – $241K
vs nat'l avg: $190K
🚚

Start a Food Truck

-12%
$44K – $175K
vs nat'l avg: $125K
💪

Start a Gym

-28%
$36K – $358K
vs nat'l avg: $275K
👶

Start a Daycare

+5%
$10K – $105K
vs nat'l avg: $55K
💇

Start a Hair Salon

-14%
$53K – $428K
vs nat'l avg: $281K
🧺

Start a Laundromat

-27%
$146K – $366K
vs nat'l avg: $350K
🍞

Start a Bakery

-11%
$9K – $178K
vs nat'l avg: $105K
🍺

Start a Bar

-13%
$96K – $743K
vs nat'l avg: $480K
🧹

Start a Cleaning Business

-1%
$2K – $30K
vs nat'l avg: $16K
🏠

Start an Airbnb

-10%
$4K – $45K
vs nat'l avg: $28K
🚛

Start a Trucking Business

-9%
$27K – $227K
vs nat'l avg: $140K

📊 Cost of Living in Daytona Beach

Monthly expenses for housing, food, transportation, and everyday necessities

🛡️ Insurance in Daytona Beach

Annual and monthly premium estimates for major insurance categories

🚘

Car Insurance

+8%
$1K – $3K
vs nat'l avg: $2KDetails →
🏡

Home Insurance

+9%
$1K – $4K
vs nat'l avg: $2KDetails →
🏥

Health Insurance

+11%
$443 – $885
vs nat'l avg: $600Details →
💼

Business Insurance

-10%
$449 – $3K
vs nat'l avg: $2KDetails →
🛡️

Life Insurance

-14%
$17 – $68
vs nat'l avg: $50
🏠

Renters Insurance

-11%
$13 – $36
vs nat'l avg: $28
🐾

Pet Insurance

+2%
$20 – $91
vs nat'l avg: $55
🦷

Dental Insurance

-8%
$14 – $56
vs nat'l avg: $38
🏍️

Motorcycle Insurance

-10%
$180 – $811
vs nat'l avg: $550

💰 Salaries & Jobs in Daytona Beach

Annual compensation by experience level, role, and specialization

💻

Software Developer Salary

-23%
$84,298/yr
vs nat'l avg: $110K/yrDetails →
👩‍⚕️

Registered Nurse Salary

-9%
$68,310/yr
vs nat'l avg: $75K/yrDetails →
📚

Teacher Salary

-26%
$40,599/yr
vs nat'l avg: $55K/yrDetails →
🔌

Electrician Salary

+10%
$68,538/yr
vs nat'l avg: $63K/yr
🔧

Plumber Salary

-8%
$55,086/yr
vs nat'l avg: $60K/yr
🧮

Accountant Salary

-21%
$56,289/yr
vs nat'l avg: $72K/yr
🏥

Physical Therapist Salary

-12%
$75,119/yr
vs nat'l avg: $85K/yr
👮

Police Officer Salary

-2%
$62,008/yr
vs nat'l avg: $64K/yr
🦷

Dentist Salary

0%
$179,370/yr
vs nat'l avg: $180K/yr
🏘️

Real Estate Agent Salary

-30%
$54,134/yr
vs nat'l avg: $78K/yr

How Much Income Do You Need in Daytona Beach?

✅ Best For

  • Outdoor enthusiasts
  • Families seeking work-life balance
  • Small business founders
  • First-time homebuyers

⚠️ Not Ideal For

  • Workers in niche industries with few local employers
  • Those seeking big-city nightlife
💬 Expert Tip

Before moving to Daytona Beach, compare your target salary against local costs using our calculator. You may be pleasantly surprised by how far your income goes.

How Does Daytona Beach Compare?

Pick a nearby city and see the full cost comparison across all 62 topics.

CostOfCity Value Index

F
Daytona Beach Value Score: 17/100
Expensive
Affordability Ratio
3.13x
Stretched
Savings Potential
25%
of median income
Value Score
0/100
income-adjusted
Growth Risk
66/100
Costs rising fast

The CostOfCity Value Index combines cost-of-living data with median income, savings potential, and cost growth trends to produce a single score. Higher = better value for your money. Updated quarterly.

📦

Free Relocation Blueprint

Your complete moving budget for Daytona Beach, FL

Monthly Budget
$2,663
Moving Costs
$2,000 – $4,500
Deposits Est.
$3,320
Cost Index
94
Median Income
$52K
Population
79K

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Frequently Asked Questions About Daytona Beach

What are the most expensive cost categories in Daytona Beach?

Like most US cities, housing is the single largest expense in Daytona Beach, typically accounting for 30-40% of household budgets. Insurance and home services tend to be the next most variable categories, influenced by southern climate conditions and state regulations.

What is the median household income in Daytona Beach?

The median household income in Daytona Beach is approximately $35,000 per year. Adjusted for local cost of living (index: 94), this goes further than in many US cities.

How does Daytona Beach compare to other cities in FL?

Within Florida, Daytona Beach has a cost index of 94. Nearby options include Orlando and Gainesville, which offer useful comparison points.

Explore Daytona Beach in Depth

🏠 Living Alone
Solo budget breakdown for Daytona Beach
💰 Salary Needed
Minimum salary to live in Daytona Beach
📊 Can I Afford It?
Budget check for Daytona Beach
📋 Monthly Budget
Full monthly breakdown
🗺️ Florida Overview
Compare all cities in Florida

Nearby Cities to Compare

Compare Daytona Beach Costs Nationally

See how Daytona Beach ranks on major household and life expenses against 300+ US cities — cheapest to most expensive.

View all 18 cost categories →

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