City Comparison

Davenport vs Dover

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Dover

Delaware
99
Average
$280,000
Median Home
$1,275/mo
Median Rent
$58,300
Median Income

The Verdict

16.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 16.2%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $89,458 in Dover.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
88
Dover
Groceries
97
Davenport
100
Dover
Utilities
83
Davenport
96
Dover
Transportation
105
Davenport
104
Dover
Healthcare
97
Davenport
100
Dover

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $89,458 in Dover.

Conversely, $75,000 in Dover equals $62,879 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Dover

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Dover's 88, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $280,000. The $68,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,416 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,275/mo in Dover, a monthly difference of $375.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 100 in Dover. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $475/month in Dover. 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 83 in Davenport and 96 in Dover. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $384 in Dover. 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 97 in Davenport and 100 in Dover. 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 $66,200 in Davenport and $58,300 in Dover. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $58,889 respectively. Davenport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,545/month to housing in Davenport vs $1,360/month in Dover. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Dover, median rent of $1,275/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 16.2% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $89,458 in Dover, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Dover's is 88 with median homes at $280,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases