City Comparison

Champaign vs Davenport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Champaign

Illinois
81
Very Affordable
$215,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$56,100
Median Income

Davenport

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

The Verdict

2.4%

Champaign is 2.4% less expensive than Davenport overall. A household earning $75,000 in Champaign would need approximately $76,852 in Davenport to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
83
Champaign
60
Davenport
Groceries
98
Champaign
97
Davenport
Utilities
106
Champaign
83
Davenport
Transportation
99
Champaign
105
Davenport
Healthcare
90
Champaign
97
Davenport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Champaign has the same purchasing power as $76,852 in Davenport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Davenport equals $73,193 in Champaign.

Living in Champaign vs Davenport

Housing Costs

Champaign's housing index of 83 is higher Davenport's 60, translating to median home prices of $215,000 vs $212,000. The $3,000 difference in home prices means roughly $192 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Champaign compared to $900/mo in Davenport, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Champaign and 97 in Davenport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Champaign 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 106 in Champaign and 83 in Davenport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Champaign 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 90 in Champaign 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 $56,100 in Champaign and $66,200 in Davenport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,259 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 $1,309/month to housing in Champaign vs $1,545/month in Davenport. In Champaign, median rent of $1,100/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 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Champaign is 2.4% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 83.
A $75,000 salary in Champaign has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $76,852 in Davenport, based on the cost of living difference.
Champaign's housing index is 83 with median homes at $215,000, while Davenport's is 60 with median homes at $212,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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