City Comparison

Davenport vs Norfolk

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Norfolk

Virginia
99
Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$51,938
Median Income

The Verdict

16.2%

Living in Davenport costs 16.2% less than Norfolk. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $89,458 in Norfolk.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
95
Norfolk
Groceries
97
Davenport
99
Norfolk
Utilities
83
Davenport
97
Norfolk
Transportation
105
Davenport
100
Norfolk
Healthcare
97
Davenport
99
Norfolk

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $89,458 in Norfolk.

Conversely, $75,000 in Norfolk equals $62,879 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Norfolk

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Norfolk's 95, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $250,000. The $38,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,472 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,300/mo in Norfolk, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 99 in Norfolk. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $470/month in Norfolk. 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 97 in Norfolk. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $388 in Norfolk. 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 99 in Norfolk. 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 $51,938 in Norfolk. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $52,463 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 $1,212/month in Norfolk. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Norfolk, median rent of $1,300/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 35 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 16.2% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $89,458 in Norfolk, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Norfolk's is 95 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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