City Comparison

Davenport vs Newark

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Newark

New Jersey
121
Expensive
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$40,014
Median Income

The Verdict

31.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 31.4%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $109,337 in Newark.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
149
Newark
Groceries
97
Davenport
103
Newark
Utilities
83
Davenport
118
Newark
Transportation
105
Davenport
115
Newark
Healthcare
97
Davenport
105
Newark

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $109,337 in Newark.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newark equals $51,446 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Newark

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Newark's 149, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $340,000. The $128,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,316 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,400/mo in Newark, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 103 in Newark. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $489/month in Newark. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 118 in Newark. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $472 in Newark. 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 105 in Newark. 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 $40,014 in Newark. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $33,069 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 $934/month in Newark. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Newark, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 89 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 31.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 121.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $109,337 in Newark, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Newark's is 149 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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