Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Davenport, IA versus $1,050 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $64,497 in Davenport, IA and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 1% higher in Davenport, IA. Both cities are in Iowa, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Davenport vs Des Moines — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Des Moines?
- Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Des Moines, IA's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Davenport than in Des Moines?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Davenport versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
- Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Des Moines?
- Neither — both are in Iowa, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).