City Comparison

Davenport vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

St. Paul

Minnesota
100
Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$57,718
Median Income

The Verdict

17.0%

Living in Davenport costs 17.0% less than St. Paul. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $90,361 in St. Paul.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
98
St. Paul
Groceries
97
Davenport
103
St. Paul
Utilities
83
Davenport
97
St. Paul
Transportation
105
Davenport
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
97
Davenport
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $90,361 in St. Paul.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $62,250 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $260,000. The $48,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,120 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $489/month in St. Paul. 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 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $388 in St. Paul. 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 105 in St. Paul. 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 $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $57,718 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 $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 38 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 17.0% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $90,361 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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