City Comparison

Athens vs Davenport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Athens

Georgia
88
Below Average
$307,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$56,700
Median Income

Davenport

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

The Verdict

6.0%

Davenport is 6.0% less expensive than Athens overall. A household earning $75,000 in Athens would need approximately $70,739 in Davenport to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
78
Athens
60
Davenport
Groceries
101
Athens
97
Davenport
Utilities
101
Athens
83
Davenport
Transportation
96
Athens
105
Davenport
Healthcare
97
Athens
97
Davenport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Athens has the same purchasing power as $70,739 in Davenport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Davenport equals $79,518 in Athens.

Living in Athens vs Davenport

Housing Costs

Athens's housing index of 78 is higher Davenport's 60, translating to median home prices of $307,000 vs $212,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Athens compared to $900/mo in Davenport, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Athens and 97 in Davenport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Athens vs $461/month in Davenport. 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 Athens and 83 in Davenport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Athens 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 97 in Athens and 97 in Davenport. 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 $56,700 in Athens and $66,200 in Davenport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,432 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 $1,323/month to housing in Athens vs $1,545/month in Davenport. In Athens, median rent of $1,200/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 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 6.0% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Athens has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $70,739 in Davenport, based on the cost of living difference.
Athens's housing index is 78 with median homes at $307,000, while Davenport's is 60 with median homes at $212,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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