City Comparison

Columbia vs Davenport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Columbia

South Carolina
96
Average
$210,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$46,734
Median Income

Davenport

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

The Verdict

15.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 15.7%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Columbia has equivalent purchasing power to $64,844 in Davenport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
88
Columbia
60
Davenport
Groceries
99
Columbia
97
Davenport
Utilities
97
Columbia
83
Davenport
Transportation
97
Columbia
105
Davenport
Healthcare
102
Columbia
97
Davenport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Columbia has the same purchasing power as $64,844 in Davenport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Davenport equals $86,747 in Columbia.

Living in Columbia vs Davenport

Housing Costs

Columbia's housing index of 88 is higher Davenport's 60, translating to median home prices of $210,000 vs $212,000. The $2,000 difference in home prices means roughly $132 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Columbia compared to $900/mo in Davenport, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Columbia and 97 in Davenport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Columbia 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 97 in Columbia and 83 in Davenport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Columbia 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 102 in Columbia 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 $46,734 in Columbia and $66,200 in Davenport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,681 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 $1,090/month to housing in Columbia vs $1,545/month in Davenport. In Columbia, 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 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 15.7% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 96.
A $75,000 salary in Columbia has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $64,844 in Davenport, based on the cost of living difference.
Columbia's housing index is 88 with median homes at $210,000, while Davenport's is 60 with median homes at $212,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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