City Comparison

Cambridge vs Davenport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts
178
Very Expensive
$890,000
Median Home
$3,100/mo
Median Rent
$103,154
Median Income

Davenport

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

The Verdict

114.5%

Davenport is 114.5% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $34,972 in Davenport to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
60
Davenport
Groceries
110
Cambridge
97
Davenport
Utilities
126
Cambridge
83
Davenport
Transportation
105
Cambridge
105
Davenport
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
97
Davenport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $34,972 in Davenport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Davenport equals $160,843 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Davenport

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Davenport's 60, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $212,000. The $678,000 difference in home prices means roughly $44,076 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $900/mo in Davenport, a monthly difference of $2,200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 97 in Davenport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $461/month in Davenport. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $744/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 83 in Davenport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge 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 118 in Cambridge and 97 in Davenport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $103,154 in Cambridge and $66,200 in Davenport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 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 $2,407/month to housing in Cambridge vs $1,545/month in Davenport. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 220 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 114.5% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $34,972 in Davenport, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Davenport's is 60 with median homes at $212,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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