Davenport vs Rapid City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Davenport
Rapid City
The Verdict
Davenport is 15.3% less expensive than Rapid City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $88,554 in Rapid City to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $88,554 in Rapid City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Rapid City equals $63,520 in Davenport.
Living in Davenport vs Rapid City
Housing Costs
Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Rapid City's 91, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $325,000. The $113,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,344 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,100/mo in Rapid City, a monthly difference of $200.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 102 in Rapid City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $485/month in Rapid City. 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 87 in Rapid City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $348 in Rapid City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 107 in Rapid City. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-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 $70,900 in Rapid City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $72,347 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 $1,654/month in Rapid City. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Rapid City, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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