Living Cost Compare
Davenport

Iowa

$960/mo est.

vs
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Davenport, IA versus $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Grand Rapids, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,497 in Davenport, IA and $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI — about 2% higher in Grand Rapids, MI. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Davenport, IA
Grand Rapids, MI

Rent

Studio
$726
$992
+37% in Grand Rapids, MI
1 Bedroom
$777
$964
+24% in Grand Rapids, MI
2 Bedroom
$962
$1,206
+25% in Grand Rapids, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,117
$1,421
+27% in Grand Rapids, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$225,500
+38% in Grand Rapids, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$64,497
$65,526
+2% in Grand Rapids, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,550
$47,570
+2% in Davenport, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
32.1 yr
+5.7 yr in Davenport, IA
Homeownership
63.0%
54.6%
+8.4 pp in Davenport, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.0%
40.1%
+10.1 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Avg Commute
18.7 min
19.4 min
+0.7 min in Grand Rapids, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
581.4
910.1
+57% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
3,559.6
2,506.2
+30% in Davenport, IA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.3°F
49.1°F
+0.2°F in Davenport, IA
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
38.3 in
+2.2 in in Grand Rapids, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
23.0
+44% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$19.72
+11% in Davenport, IA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / MI)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
4.25%
+0.5 pp in MI

Davenport vs Grand Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Grand Rapids?
Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Grand Rapids, MI's $1,200, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Davenport than in Grand Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Davenport versus $39,000 in Grand Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Grand Rapids?
Davenport is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Grand Rapids under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).