City Comparison

Anchorage vs Davenport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Anchorage

Alaska
127
Expensive
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$72,515
Median Income

Davenport

Iowa
83
Very Affordable
$212,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$66,200
Median Income

The Verdict

53.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 53.0%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Anchorage has equivalent purchasing power to $49,016 in Davenport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
142
Anchorage
60
Davenport
Groceries
120
Anchorage
97
Davenport
Utilities
130
Anchorage
83
Davenport
Transportation
108
Anchorage
105
Davenport
Healthcare
128
Anchorage
97
Davenport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Anchorage has the same purchasing power as $49,016 in Davenport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Davenport equals $114,759 in Anchorage.

Living in Anchorage vs Davenport

Housing Costs

Anchorage's housing index of 142 is higher Davenport's 60, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $212,000. The $128,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,316 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Anchorage compared to $900/mo in Davenport, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 120 in Anchorage and 97 in Davenport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $570/month in Anchorage vs $461/month in Davenport. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1308/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 130 in Anchorage and 83 in Davenport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $520 in Anchorage vs $332 in Davenport. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 128 in Anchorage and 97 in Davenport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 31-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $72,515 in Anchorage and $66,200 in Davenport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,098 and $79,759 respectively. Davenport residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,692/month to housing in Anchorage vs $1,545/month in Davenport. In Anchorage, median rent of $1,400/mo fits within this budget. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 82 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 53.0% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Anchorage has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $49,016 in Davenport, based on the cost of living difference.
Anchorage's housing index is 142 with median homes at $340,000, while Davenport's is 60 with median homes at $212,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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