City Comparison

Davenport vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

St Cloud

Minnesota
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$60,200
Median Income

The Verdict

7.8%

Davenport is 7.8% less expensive than St Cloud overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $81,325 in St Cloud to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
82
St Cloud
Groceries
97
Davenport
101
St Cloud
Utilities
83
Davenport
95
St Cloud
Transportation
105
Davenport
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
97
Davenport
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $81,325 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $69,167 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $250,000. The $38,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,472 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $480/month in St Cloud. 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 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $380 in St Cloud. 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 St Cloud. 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 $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $66,889 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 $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 7.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,325 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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