City Comparison

Davenport vs Elk Grove

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Elk Grove

California
144
Expensive
$608,000
Median Home
$1,975/mo
Median Rent
$123,200
Median Income

The Verdict

42.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 42.4%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $130,120 in Elk Grove.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
221
Elk Grove
Groceries
97
Davenport
106
Elk Grove
Utilities
83
Davenport
115
Elk Grove
Transportation
105
Davenport
118
Elk Grove
Healthcare
97
Davenport
103
Elk Grove

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $130,120 in Elk Grove.

Conversely, $75,000 in Elk Grove equals $43,229 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Elk Grove

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Elk Grove's 221, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $608,000. The $396,000 difference in home prices means roughly $25,740 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,975/mo in Elk Grove, a monthly difference of $1,075.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 106 in Elk Grove. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $504/month in Elk Grove. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 115 in Elk Grove. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $460 in Elk Grove. 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 103 in Elk Grove. 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 $123,200 in Elk Grove. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $85,556 respectively. Elk Grove residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,545/month to housing in Davenport vs $2,875/month in Elk Grove. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Elk Grove, median rent of $1,975/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 161 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 42.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 144.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $130,120 in Elk Grove, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Elk Grove's is 221 with median homes at $608,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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