Davenport vs Meridian
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Davenport
Meridian
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 30.8%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $108,434 in Meridian.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $108,434 in Meridian.
Conversely, $75,000 in Meridian equals $51,875 in Davenport.
Living in Davenport vs Meridian
Housing Costs
Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Meridian's 154, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $509,000. The $297,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,308 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,725/mo in Meridian, a monthly difference of $825.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 104 in Meridian. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $494/month in Meridian. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 86 in Meridian. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $344 in Meridian. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 103 in Meridian. 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 $99,700 in Meridian. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $83,083 respectively. Meridian residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,545/month to housing in Davenport vs $2,326/month in Meridian. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Meridian, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 94 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases