City Comparison

Davenport vs Sydney

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Sydney

Australia
105
Average
$825,000
Median Home
$2,050/mo
Median Rent
$60,000
Median Income

The Verdict

21.0%

Davenport is 21.0% less expensive than Sydney overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $94,880 in Sydney to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
142
Sydney
Groceries
97
Davenport
95
Sydney
Utilities
83
Davenport
98
Sydney
Transportation
105
Davenport
108
Sydney
Healthcare
97
Davenport
72
Sydney

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $94,880 in Sydney.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sydney equals $59,286 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Sydney

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Sydney's 142, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $825,000. The $613,000 difference in home prices means roughly $39,840 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $2,050/mo in Sydney, a monthly difference of $1,150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 95 in Sydney. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $451/month in Sydney. 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 98 in Sydney. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $392 in Sydney. 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 72 in Sydney. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 25-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 $60,000 in Sydney. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $57,143 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 $1,400/month in Sydney. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Sydney, median rent of $2,050/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 82 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 21.0% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $94,880 in Sydney, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Sydney's is 142 with median homes at $825,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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