City Comparison

Davenport vs Hilo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Hilo

Hawaii
132
Expensive
$555,000
Median Home
$1,575/mo
Median Rent
$78,700
Median Income

The Verdict

37.1%

Davenport is 37.1% less expensive than Hilo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $119,277 in Hilo to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
149
Hilo
Groceries
97
Davenport
149
Hilo
Utilities
83
Davenport
218
Hilo
Transportation
105
Davenport
146
Hilo
Healthcare
97
Davenport
118
Hilo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $119,277 in Hilo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hilo equals $47,159 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Hilo

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Hilo's 149, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $555,000. The $343,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,296 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,575/mo in Hilo, a monthly difference of $675.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 149 in Hilo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $708/month in Hilo. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $2964/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 218 in Hilo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $872 in Hilo. 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 118 in Hilo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-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 $78,700 in Hilo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $59,621 respectively. Davenport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,545/month to housing in Davenport vs $1,836/month in Hilo. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Hilo, median rent of $1,575/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 135 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 37.1% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 132.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $119,277 in Hilo, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Hilo's is 149 with median homes at $555,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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