Davenport vs Durham
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Davenport
Durham
The Verdict
Davenport is 17.8% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $91,265 in Durham to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $91,265 in Durham.
Conversely, $75,000 in Durham equals $61,634 in Davenport.
Living in Davenport vs Durham
Housing Costs
Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Durham's 104, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $340,000. The $128,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,316 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,400/mo in Durham, a monthly difference of $500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 100 in Durham. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $475/month in Durham. 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 93 in Durham. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $372 in Durham. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 108 in Durham. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $66,200 in Davenport and $57,738 in Durham. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $57,166 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 $1,347/month in Durham. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 44 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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