City Comparison

Davenport vs Tempe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Tempe

Arizona
106
Above Average
$400,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$56,068
Median Income

The Verdict

21.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 21.7%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $95,783 in Tempe.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
114
Tempe
Groceries
97
Davenport
100
Tempe
Utilities
83
Davenport
96
Tempe
Transportation
105
Davenport
103
Tempe
Healthcare
97
Davenport
95
Tempe

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $95,783 in Tempe.

Conversely, $75,000 in Tempe equals $58,726 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Tempe

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Tempe's 114, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $400,000. The $188,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,216 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,600/mo in Tempe, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 100 in Tempe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $475/month in Tempe. 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 Tempe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $384 in Tempe. 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 95 in Tempe. 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 $56,068 in Tempe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $52,894 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 $1,308/month in Tempe. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Tempe, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 21.7% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $95,783 in Tempe, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Tempe's is 114 with median homes at $400,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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