City Comparison

Davenport vs Lincoln

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Lincoln

Nebraska
93
Below Average
$264,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$71,900
Median Income

The Verdict

10.8%

Davenport is 10.8% less expensive than Lincoln overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $84,036 in Lincoln to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
77
Lincoln
Groceries
97
Davenport
98
Lincoln
Utilities
83
Davenport
93
Lincoln
Transportation
105
Davenport
97
Lincoln
Healthcare
97
Davenport
102
Lincoln

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Davenport vs Lincoln

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $264,000. The $52,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,384 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $466/month in Lincoln. 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 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $372 in Lincoln. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 102 in Lincoln. 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 $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $77,312 respectively. Davenport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,545/month to housing in Davenport vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 17 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 Lincoln, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Lincoln's is 77 with median homes at $264,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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