City Comparison

Davenport vs Montgomery

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Montgomery

Alabama
79
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$56,800
Median Income

The Verdict

5.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 5.1%, with Montgomery being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $71,386 in Montgomery.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
49
Montgomery
Groceries
97
Davenport
99
Montgomery
Utilities
83
Davenport
115
Montgomery
Transportation
105
Davenport
92
Montgomery
Healthcare
97
Davenport
78
Montgomery

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $71,386 in Montgomery.

Conversely, $75,000 in Montgomery equals $78,797 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Montgomery

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is higher Montgomery's 49, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $162,000. The $50,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,252 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,000/mo in Montgomery, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 99 in Montgomery. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $470/month in Montgomery. 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 115 in Montgomery. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $460 in Montgomery. 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 78 in Montgomery. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $66,200 in Davenport and $56,800 in Montgomery. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $71,899 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 $1,325/month in Montgomery. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 32 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Montgomery is 5.1% more affordable overall with an index of 79 vs 83.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $71,386 in Montgomery, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Montgomery's is 49 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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