City Comparison

Davenport vs Kalamazoo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Kalamazoo

Michigan
88
Below Average
$191,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$51,000
Median Income

The Verdict

5.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 5.7%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $79,518 in Kalamazoo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
60
Kalamazoo
Groceries
97
Davenport
97
Kalamazoo
Utilities
83
Davenport
96
Kalamazoo
Transportation
105
Davenport
101
Kalamazoo
Healthcare
97
Davenport
96
Kalamazoo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $79,518 in Kalamazoo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Kalamazoo equals $70,739 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Kalamazoo

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is equal to Kalamazoo's 60, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $191,000. The $21,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,368 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $925/mo in Kalamazoo, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 97 in Kalamazoo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $461/month in Kalamazoo. 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 96 in Kalamazoo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $384 in Kalamazoo. 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 96 in Kalamazoo. 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 $51,000 in Kalamazoo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $57,955 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 $1,190/month in Kalamazoo. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Kalamazoo, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 5.7% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $79,518 in Kalamazoo, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Kalamazoo's is 60 with median homes at $191,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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