City Comparison

Davenport vs Mobile

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Mobile

Alabama
84
Very Affordable
$193,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$53,600
Median Income

The Verdict

1.2%

Living in Davenport costs 1.2% less than Mobile. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $75,904 in Mobile.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
60
Mobile
Groceries
97
Davenport
98
Mobile
Utilities
83
Davenport
108
Mobile
Transportation
105
Davenport
90
Mobile
Healthcare
97
Davenport
100
Mobile

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $75,904 in Mobile.

Conversely, $75,000 in Mobile equals $74,107 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Mobile

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is equal to Mobile's 60, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $193,000. The $19,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,236 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $975/mo in Mobile, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 98 in Mobile. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $466/month in Mobile. 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 108 in Mobile. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $432 in Mobile. 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 100 in Mobile. 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 $53,600 in Mobile. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $63,810 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 $1,251/month in Mobile. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Mobile, median rent of $975/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 1.2% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,904 in Mobile, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Mobile's is 60 with median homes at $193,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases