City Comparison

Davenport vs Surprise

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Surprise

Arizona
103
Average
$419,000
Median Home
$1,575/mo
Median Rent
$85,500
Median Income

The Verdict

19.4%

Living in Davenport costs 19.4% less than Surprise. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $93,072 in Surprise.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
105
Surprise
Groceries
97
Davenport
100
Surprise
Utilities
83
Davenport
102
Surprise
Transportation
105
Davenport
106
Surprise
Healthcare
97
Davenport
97
Surprise

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $93,072 in Surprise.

Conversely, $75,000 in Surprise equals $60,437 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Surprise

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Surprise's 105, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $419,000. The $207,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,452 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,575/mo in Surprise, a monthly difference of $675.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 100 in Surprise. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $475/month in Surprise. 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 102 in Surprise. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $408 in Surprise. 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 97 in Surprise. 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 $85,500 in Surprise. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $83,010 respectively. Surprise 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 $1,995/month in Surprise. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Surprise, median rent of $1,575/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 45 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 19.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $93,072 in Surprise, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Surprise's is 105 with median homes at $419,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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