City Comparison

Davenport vs Knoxville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Knoxville

Tennessee
88
Below Average
$240,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$42,898
Median Income

The Verdict

5.7%

Living in Davenport costs 5.7% less than Knoxville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $79,518 in Knoxville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
73
Knoxville
Groceries
97
Davenport
94
Knoxville
Utilities
83
Davenport
90
Knoxville
Transportation
105
Davenport
97
Knoxville
Healthcare
97
Davenport
93
Knoxville

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Davenport vs Knoxville

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Knoxville's 73, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $240,000. The $28,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,824 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,100/mo in Knoxville, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 94 in Knoxville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $447/month in Knoxville. 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 90 in Knoxville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $360 in Knoxville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 93 in Knoxville. 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 $42,898 in Knoxville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $48,748 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 $1,001/month in Knoxville. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, 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 Knoxville, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Knoxville's is 73 with median homes at $240,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases