City Comparison

Davenport vs Lexington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Lexington

Kentucky
93
Below Average
$245,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$55,648
Median Income

The Verdict

10.8%

Living in Davenport costs 10.8% less than Lexington. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $84,036 in Lexington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
82
Lexington
Groceries
97
Davenport
96
Lexington
Utilities
83
Davenport
91
Lexington
Transportation
105
Davenport
98
Lexington
Healthcare
97
Davenport
94
Lexington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $84,036 in Lexington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lexington equals $66,935 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Lexington

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Lexington's 82, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $245,000. The $33,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,148 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,200/mo in Lexington, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 96 in Lexington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $456/month in Lexington. 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 91 in Lexington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $364 in Lexington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 94 in Lexington. 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 $55,648 in Lexington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $59,837 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 $1,298/month in Lexington. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Lexington, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 10.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,036 in Lexington, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Lexington's is 82 with median homes at $245,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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