City Comparison

Davenport vs Reading

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Reading

Pennsylvania
89
Below Average
$155,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$45,600
Median Income

The Verdict

6.7%

Living in Davenport costs 6.7% less than Reading. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $80,422 in Reading.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
62
Reading
Groceries
97
Davenport
96
Reading
Utilities
83
Davenport
105
Reading
Transportation
105
Davenport
108
Reading
Healthcare
97
Davenport
89
Reading

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $80,422 in Reading.

Conversely, $75,000 in Reading equals $69,944 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Reading

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Reading's 62, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $155,000. The $57,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,708 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,050/mo in Reading, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 96 in Reading. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $456/month in Reading. 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 105 in Reading. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $420 in Reading. 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 89 in Reading. 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 $45,600 in Reading. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $51,236 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 $1,064/month in Reading. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Reading, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 6.7% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 89.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $80,422 in Reading, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Reading's is 62 with median homes at $155,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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