City Comparison

Davenport vs Sparks

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Sparks

Nevada
119
Above Average
$500,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$67,200
Median Income

The Verdict

30.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 30.3%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $107,530 in Sparks.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
162
Sparks
Groceries
97
Davenport
103
Sparks
Utilities
83
Davenport
90
Sparks
Transportation
105
Davenport
122
Sparks
Healthcare
97
Davenport
88
Sparks

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $107,530 in Sparks.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sparks equals $52,311 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Sparks

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Sparks's 162, 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 $1,475/mo in Sparks, a monthly difference of $575.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 103 in Sparks. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $489/month in Sparks. 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 90 in Sparks. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $360 in Sparks. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 88 in Sparks. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $67,200 in Sparks. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $56,471 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 $1,568/month in Sparks. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Sparks, median rent of $1,475/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 102 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 30.3% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 119.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $107,530 in Sparks, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Sparks's is 162 with median homes at $500,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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