City Comparison

Davenport vs Lancaster

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Lancaster

Pennsylvania
100
Average
$225,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$63,700
Median Income

The Verdict

17.0%

Davenport is 17.0% less expensive than Lancaster overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $90,361 in Lancaster to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
67
Lancaster
Groceries
97
Davenport
97
Lancaster
Utilities
83
Davenport
110
Lancaster
Transportation
105
Davenport
110
Lancaster
Healthcare
97
Davenport
94
Lancaster

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $90,361 in Lancaster.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lancaster equals $62,250 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Lancaster

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Lancaster's 67, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $225,000. The $13,000 difference in home prices means roughly $840 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,175/mo in Lancaster, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 97 in Lancaster. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $461/month in Lancaster. 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 110 in Lancaster. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $440 in Lancaster. 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 94 in Lancaster. 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 $63,700 in Lancaster. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $63,700 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 $1,486/month in Lancaster. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Lancaster, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 17.0% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $90,361 in Lancaster, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Lancaster's is 67 with median homes at $225,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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