City Comparison

Davenport vs Olympia

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Olympia

Washington
112
Above Average
$495,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$81,300
Median Income

The Verdict

25.9%

Living in Davenport costs 25.9% less than Olympia. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $101,205 in Olympia.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
131
Olympia
Groceries
97
Davenport
105
Olympia
Utilities
83
Davenport
91
Olympia
Transportation
105
Davenport
129
Olympia
Healthcare
97
Davenport
124
Olympia

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $101,205 in Olympia.

Conversely, $75,000 in Olympia equals $55,580 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Olympia

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Olympia's 131, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $495,000. The $283,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,396 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,600/mo in Olympia, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 105 in Olympia. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $499/month in Olympia. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 91 in Olympia. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $364 in Olympia. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 124 in Olympia. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-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 $81,300 in Olympia. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $72,589 respectively. Davenport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,545/month to housing in Davenport vs $1,897/month in Olympia. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Olympia, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 25.9% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $101,205 in Olympia, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Olympia's is 131 with median homes at $495,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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