City Comparison

Davenport vs Palm Bay

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Palm Bay

Florida
96
Average
$315,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$72,600
Median Income

The Verdict

13.5%

Davenport is 13.5% less expensive than Palm Bay overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $86,747 in Palm Bay to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
90
Palm Bay
Groceries
97
Davenport
101
Palm Bay
Utilities
83
Davenport
97
Palm Bay
Transportation
105
Davenport
102
Palm Bay
Healthcare
97
Davenport
93
Palm Bay

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $86,747 in Palm Bay.

Conversely, $75,000 in Palm Bay equals $64,844 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Palm Bay

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Palm Bay's 90, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $315,000. The $103,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,696 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,600/mo in Palm Bay, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 101 in Palm Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $480/month in Palm Bay. 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 Palm Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $388 in Palm Bay. 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 93 in Palm Bay. 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 $72,600 in Palm Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $75,625 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 $1,694/month in Palm Bay. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Palm Bay, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 13.5% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 96.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,747 in Palm Bay, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Palm Bay's is 90 with median homes at $315,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases