City Comparison

Davenport vs Rochester

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Rochester

New York
94
Below Average
$155,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$39,728
Median Income

The Verdict

11.7%

Living in Davenport costs 11.7% less than Rochester. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $84,940 in Rochester.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
73
Rochester
Groceries
97
Davenport
101
Rochester
Utilities
83
Davenport
105
Rochester
Transportation
105
Davenport
101
Rochester
Healthcare
97
Davenport
100
Rochester

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $84,940 in Rochester.

Conversely, $75,000 in Rochester equals $66,223 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Rochester

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Rochester's 73, 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 $1,000/mo in Rochester, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 101 in Rochester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $480/month in Rochester. 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 Rochester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $420 in Rochester. 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 Rochester. 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 $39,728 in Rochester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $42,264 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 $927/month in Rochester. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Rochester, median rent of $1,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. 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 11.7% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 94.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,940 in Rochester, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Rochester's is 73 with median homes at $155,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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