City Comparison

Chattanooga vs Davenport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Chattanooga

Tennessee
89
Below Average
$255,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$46,054
Median Income

Davenport

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

The Verdict

7.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 7.2%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Chattanooga has equivalent purchasing power to $69,944 in Davenport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
76
Chattanooga
60
Davenport
Groceries
94
Chattanooga
97
Davenport
Utilities
91
Chattanooga
83
Davenport
Transportation
97
Chattanooga
105
Davenport
Healthcare
92
Chattanooga
97
Davenport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Chattanooga has the same purchasing power as $69,944 in Davenport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Davenport equals $80,422 in Chattanooga.

Living in Chattanooga vs Davenport

Housing Costs

Chattanooga's housing index of 76 is higher Davenport's 60, translating to median home prices of $255,000 vs $212,000. The $43,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,796 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Chattanooga compared to $900/mo in Davenport, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Chattanooga and 97 in Davenport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Chattanooga 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 91 in Chattanooga and 83 in Davenport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Chattanooga vs $332 in Davenport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Chattanooga 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 $46,054 in Chattanooga and $66,200 in Davenport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,746 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 $1,075/month to housing in Chattanooga vs $1,545/month in Davenport. In Chattanooga, median rent of $1,200/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 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 7.2% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 89.
A $75,000 salary in Chattanooga has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $69,944 in Davenport, based on the cost of living difference.
Chattanooga's housing index is 76 with median homes at $255,000, while Davenport's is 60 with median homes at $212,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases