City Comparison

Davenport vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

24.5%

Davenport is 24.5% less expensive than Sugar Land overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $99,398 in Sugar Land to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
97
Davenport
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
83
Davenport
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
105
Davenport
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
97
Davenport
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $99,398 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $56,591 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $456,000. The $244,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,864 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $725.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $384 in Sugar Land. 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 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,545/month to housing in Davenport vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 24.5% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $99,398 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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