City Comparison

Bowling Green vs Davenport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bowling Green

Kentucky
85
Very Affordable
$266,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$48,900
Median Income

Davenport

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

The Verdict

2.4%

Living in Davenport costs 2.4% less than Bowling Green. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $73,235 in Davenport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
71
Bowling Green
60
Davenport
Groceries
95
Bowling Green
97
Davenport
Utilities
109
Bowling Green
83
Davenport
Transportation
80
Bowling Green
105
Davenport
Healthcare
87
Bowling Green
97
Davenport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bowling Green has the same purchasing power as $73,235 in Davenport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Davenport equals $76,807 in Bowling Green.

Living in Bowling Green vs Davenport

Housing Costs

Bowling Green's housing index of 71 is higher Davenport's 60, translating to median home prices of $266,000 vs $212,000. The $54,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Bowling Green compared to $900/mo in Davenport, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Bowling Green and 97 in Davenport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Bowling Green 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 109 in Bowling Green and 83 in Davenport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Bowling Green 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 87 in Bowling Green and 97 in Davenport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,900 in Bowling Green and $66,200 in Davenport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,529 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 $1,141/month to housing in Bowling Green vs $1,545/month in Davenport. In Bowling Green, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 2.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Bowling Green has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $73,235 in Davenport, based on the cost of living difference.
Bowling Green's housing index is 71 with median homes at $266,000, while Davenport's is 60 with median homes at $212,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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