City Comparison

Davenport vs Raleigh

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Raleigh

North Carolina
102
Average
$370,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$67,266
Median Income

The Verdict

18.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 18.6%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $92,169 in Raleigh.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
107
Raleigh
Groceries
97
Davenport
100
Raleigh
Utilities
83
Davenport
94
Raleigh
Transportation
105
Davenport
100
Raleigh
Healthcare
97
Davenport
108
Raleigh

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $92,169 in Raleigh.

Conversely, $75,000 in Raleigh equals $61,029 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Raleigh

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Raleigh's 107, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $370,000. The $158,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,272 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,500/mo in Raleigh, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 100 in Raleigh. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $475/month in Raleigh. 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 94 in Raleigh. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $376 in Raleigh. 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 108 in Raleigh. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-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 $67,266 in Raleigh. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $65,947 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 $1,570/month in Raleigh. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Raleigh, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 47 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 18.6% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 102.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $92,169 in Raleigh, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Raleigh's is 107 with median homes at $370,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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