Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Huntsville?

Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Davenport than in Huntsville?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Davenport versus $36,000 in Huntsville.

Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Huntsville?

Davenport is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Davenport vs Huntsville Cost of Living 2026

Davenport

Iowa

$960/mo est.

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Davenport, IA versus $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,497 in Davenport, IA and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 9% higher in Huntsville, AL. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Davenport, IA

Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio

$726

$815

+12% in Huntsville, AL

1 Bedroom

$777

$900

+16% in Huntsville, AL

2 Bedroom

$962

$1,080

+12% in Huntsville, AL

3 Bedroom

$1,117

$1,251

+12% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$162,900

$263,100

+62% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income

$64,497

$70,778

+10% in Huntsville, AL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,550

$51,740

+7% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.8 yr

36.4 yr

+1.4 yr in Davenport, IA

Homeownership

63.0%

58.1%

+4.9 pp in Davenport, IA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

46.2%

+16.2 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

18.7 min

19.3 min

+0.6 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

581.4

483.2

+17% in Davenport, IA

Property Crime

3,559.6

2,395.7

+33% 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

62.1°F

+12.8°F in Huntsville, AL

Annual Precipitation

36.0 in

54.3 in

+18.3 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Davenport, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

16.4

+3% in Huntsville, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.16

$24.06

+9% in Huntsville, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Davenport, IA

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Huntsville, AL

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Davenport, IA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Davenport, IA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Davenport, IA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / AL)

+2.0 pp in IA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.80%

5.00%

+1.2 pp in AL

Davenport vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Huntsville?: Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Davenport than in Huntsville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Davenport versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Huntsville?: Davenport is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% 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).