City Comparison

Davenport vs Joliet

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Joliet

Illinois
95
Below Average
$275,000
Median Home
$1,325/mo
Median Rent
$88,000
Median Income

The Verdict

12.6%

Living in Davenport costs 12.6% less than Joliet. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $85,843 in Joliet.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
85
Joliet
Groceries
97
Davenport
101
Joliet
Utilities
83
Davenport
94
Joliet
Transportation
105
Davenport
108
Joliet
Healthcare
97
Davenport
102
Joliet

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $85,843 in Joliet.

Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $65,526 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Joliet

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $275,000. The $63,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,092 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $480/month in Joliet. 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 Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $376 in Joliet. 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 102 in Joliet. 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 $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $92,632 respectively. Joliet 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 $2,053/month in Joliet. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Joliet, median rent of $1,325/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 12.6% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,843 in Joliet, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Joliet's is 85 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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