City Comparison

Davenport vs Riverside

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Riverside

California
128
Expensive
$500,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$67,068
Median Income

The Verdict

35.2%

Davenport is 35.2% less expensive than Riverside overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $115,663 in Riverside to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
155
Riverside
Groceries
97
Davenport
103
Riverside
Utilities
83
Davenport
111
Riverside
Transportation
105
Davenport
114
Riverside
Healthcare
97
Davenport
102
Riverside

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $115,663 in Riverside.

Conversely, $75,000 in Riverside equals $48,633 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Riverside

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Riverside's 155, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $500,000. The $288,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,720 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,800/mo in Riverside, a monthly difference of $900.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 103 in Riverside. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $489/month in Riverside. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 111 in Riverside. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $444 in Riverside. 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 102 in Riverside. 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 $67,068 in Riverside. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $52,397 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 $1,565/month in Riverside. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Riverside, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 95 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 35.2% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $115,663 in Riverside, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Riverside's is 155 with median homes at $500,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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