City Comparison

Davenport vs Fort Lauderdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Fort Lauderdale

Florida
122
Expensive
$380,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$54,468
Median Income

The Verdict

32.0%

Living in Davenport costs 32.0% less than Fort Lauderdale. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $110,241 in Fort Lauderdale.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
155
Fort Lauderdale
Groceries
97
Davenport
106
Fort Lauderdale
Utilities
83
Davenport
96
Fort Lauderdale
Transportation
105
Davenport
108
Fort Lauderdale
Healthcare
97
Davenport
99
Fort Lauderdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $110,241 in Fort Lauderdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Lauderdale equals $51,025 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Fort Lauderdale

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Fort Lauderdale's 155, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $380,000. The $168,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,920 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale, a monthly difference of $1,100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 106 in Fort Lauderdale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $504/month in Fort Lauderdale. 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 96 in Fort Lauderdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $384 in Fort Lauderdale. 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 99 in Fort Lauderdale. 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 $54,468 in Fort Lauderdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $44,646 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 $1,271/month in Fort Lauderdale. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 95 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 32.0% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $110,241 in Fort Lauderdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Fort Lauderdale's is 155 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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