City Comparison

Davenport vs Richmond

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Richmond

Virginia
103
Average
$300,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$50,120
Median Income

The Verdict

19.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 19.4%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $93,072 in Richmond.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
108
Richmond
Groceries
97
Davenport
100
Richmond
Utilities
83
Davenport
97
Richmond
Transportation
105
Davenport
100
Richmond
Healthcare
97
Davenport
100
Richmond

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $93,072 in Richmond.

Conversely, $75,000 in Richmond equals $60,437 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Richmond

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Richmond's 108, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $300,000. The $88,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,400/mo in Richmond, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 100 in Richmond. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $475/month in Richmond. 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 Richmond. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $388 in Richmond. 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 100 in Richmond. 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 $50,120 in Richmond. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $48,660 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 $1,169/month in Richmond. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Richmond, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 48 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 19.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $93,072 in Richmond, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Richmond's is 108 with median homes at $300,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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