City Comparison

Davenport vs Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Wilmington

North Carolina
103
Average
$320,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$48,432
Median Income

The Verdict

19.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 19.4%, with Davenport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to $93,072 in Wilmington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
108
Wilmington
Groceries
97
Davenport
101
Wilmington
Utilities
83
Davenport
94
Wilmington
Transportation
105
Davenport
99
Wilmington
Healthcare
97
Davenport
106
Wilmington

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Davenport vs Wilmington

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $320,000. The $108,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,020 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $480/month in Wilmington. 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 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $376 in Wilmington. 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 106 in Wilmington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $47,021 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 $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 48 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 Wilmington, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Wilmington's is 108 with median homes at $320,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases