City Comparison

Davenport vs Flint

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Flint

Michigan
85
Very Affordable
$75,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$30,400
Median Income

The Verdict

2.4%

Davenport is 2.4% less expensive than Flint overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $76,807 in Flint to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
31
Flint
Groceries
97
Davenport
100
Flint
Utilities
83
Davenport
94
Flint
Transportation
105
Davenport
108
Flint
Healthcare
97
Davenport
95
Flint

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $76,807 in Flint.

Conversely, $75,000 in Flint equals $73,235 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Flint

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is higher Flint's 31, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $75,000. The $137,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,904 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $775/mo in Flint, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 100 in Flint. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $475/month in Flint. 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 94 in Flint. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $376 in Flint. 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 95 in Flint. 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 $30,400 in Flint. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $35,765 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 $709/month in Flint. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Flint, median rent of $775/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 2.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $76,807 in Flint, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Flint's is 31 with median homes at $75,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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