City Comparison

Davenport vs Fayetteville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Fayetteville

North Carolina
81
Very Affordable
$213,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$49,800
Median Income

The Verdict

2.5%

Living in Fayetteville costs 2.5% less than Davenport. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $73,193 in Fayetteville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
52
Fayetteville
Groceries
97
Davenport
94
Fayetteville
Utilities
83
Davenport
98
Fayetteville
Transportation
105
Davenport
77
Fayetteville
Healthcare
97
Davenport
106
Fayetteville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $73,193 in Fayetteville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $76,852 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Fayetteville

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is higher Fayetteville's 52, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $213,000. The $1,000 difference in home prices means roughly $60 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,075/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 94 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $447/month in Fayetteville. 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 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $392 in Fayetteville. 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 106 in Fayetteville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $49,800 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $61,481 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 $1,162/month in Fayetteville. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 2.5% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 83.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $73,193 in Fayetteville, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Fayetteville's is 52 with median homes at $213,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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