Cost of Living in Davenport, IA
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Davenport, IA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Davenport, IA?
With a price level of 89.1 (U.S. average = 100), Davenport, IA is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 32% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 10% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 6% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Davenport, IA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.1 | −10.9% |
| Housing | 68.3 | −31.7% |
| Goods | 94.2 | −5.8% |
| Utilities | 89.9 | −10.1% |
| Other services | 93.5 | −6.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Davenport, IA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $817 | $32,680/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $928 | $37,120/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,143 | $45,720/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,498 | $59,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,819 | $72,760/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Davenport, IA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Davenport, IA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,600 | $30,084 |
| $60,000 | $53,400 | $43,710 |
| $80,000 | $71,300 | $56,932 |
| $100,000 | $89,100 | $68,778 |
| $150,000 | $133,600 | $98,157 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Iowa 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Davenport, IA's median wage of $48,550 takes home about $3,333 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $928, which is 28% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,405 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Davenport, IA
- Federal income tax$3,646
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,010
- Medicare (1.45%)$704
- Iowa income tax$1,193
- Take-home pay$39,997
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Highest-paying jobs in Davenport, IA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $91,140 | $70,135 | $78,734 |
| Registered Nurse | $77,150 | $60,825 | $68,282 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $58,280 | $47,445 | $53,262 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | $45,470 | $37,639 | $42,254 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,980 | $35,733 | $40,114 |
| Office Clerks, General | $42,340 | $35,243 | $39,564 |
| Customer Service Representative | $39,950 | $33,414 | $37,510 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $36,720 | $30,941 | $34,734 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $35,560 | $30,053 | $33,737 |
| Retail Salesperson | $32,030 | $27,351 | $30,704 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $31,200 | $26,715 | $29,991 |
| Cashier | $31,200 | $26,715 | $29,991 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $31,200 | $26,715 | $29,991 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Iowa cities
Half of Iowa’s 1,559,240 workers earn less than $48,540 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,570–$70,290 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Ames, IA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Omaha, NE is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | $49,660 | 91.9 | $1,144 | 34% | $2,260 | $44,441 |
| Des Moines, IA | $51,820 | 91.7 | $1,092 | 31% | $2,450 | $46,346 |
| Davenport, IA | $48,550 | 89.1 | $928 | 28% | $2,405 | $44,900 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $49,360 | 89.0 | $800 | 24% | $2,585 | $45,656 |
| Iowa City, IA | $50,060 | 91.5 | $932 | 27% | $2,497 | $44,971 |
| Waterloo, IA | $47,430 | 87.1 | $793 | 24% | $2,469 | $44,958 |
| Sioux City, IA | $47,030 | 86.5 | $925 | 29% | $2,311 | $44,918 |
| Dubuque, IA | $48,750 | 87.3 | $841 | 25% | $2,505 | $45,976 |
| Ames, IA | $50,220 | 88.8 | $975 | 28% | $2,465 | $46,465 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Davenport, IA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 89.1 | $928 | $48,550 | 180,450 |
| Asheville, NC | 96.5 | $1,429 | $46,870 | 180,620 |
| Lafayette, LA | 87.2 | $847 | $41,780 | 179,570 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 90.6 | $978 | $47,970 | 178,590 |
| Lincoln, NE | 91.6 | $917 | $49,800 | 182,620 |
| York, PA | 96.0 | $1,060 | $48,170 | 183,590 |
| Anchorage, AK | 105.4 | $1,190 | $60,200 | 177,050 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Davenport, IA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area are 89.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 68.3%. It is the #309 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Davenport, IA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $53,447 in Davenport, IA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,550.
Can you afford Davenport, IA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,550 median wage takes home about $3,333 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $928 would take 28% of that.
How much is rent in Davenport, IA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Davenport, IA are $817 for a studio, $928 for one bedroom, $1,143 for two bedrooms and $1,498 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Davenport, IA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $91,140
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $77,150
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,200
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $32,030
- Cashier — $31,200
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $42,340
- Customer Service Representative — $39,950
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,470
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,280
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,980
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,720