A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Davenport, IA versus $1,550 in Hilo, HI. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.
Median household income is $64,497 in Davenport, IA and $78,713 in Hilo, HI — about 18% higher in Hilo, HI. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% 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 West Coast (PADD 5).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Davenport vs Hilo — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Hilo?
- Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Davenport than in Hilo?
- 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 Hilo.
- Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Hilo?
- Davenport is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% 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).