City Comparison

Davenport vs Santa Rosa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Santa Rosa

California
152
Very Expensive
$720,000
Median Home
$2,100/mo
Median Rent
$94,300
Median Income

The Verdict

45.4%

Living in Davenport costs 45.4% less than Santa Rosa. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $137,349 in Santa Rosa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
233
Santa Rosa
Groceries
97
Davenport
107
Santa Rosa
Utilities
83
Davenport
135
Santa Rosa
Transportation
105
Davenport
128
Santa Rosa
Healthcare
97
Davenport
112
Santa Rosa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $137,349 in Santa Rosa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Rosa equals $40,954 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Santa Rosa

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Santa Rosa's 233, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $720,000. The $508,000 difference in home prices means roughly $33,024 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa, a monthly difference of $1,200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 107 in Santa Rosa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $508/month in Santa Rosa. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 135 in Santa Rosa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $540 in Santa Rosa. 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 112 in Santa Rosa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-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 $94,300 in Santa Rosa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $62,039 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 $2,200/month in Santa Rosa. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Santa Rosa, median rent of $2,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 173 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 45.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 152.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $137,349 in Santa Rosa, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Santa Rosa's is 233 with median homes at $720,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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