Living Cost Compare
Davenport

Iowa

$960/mo est.

vs
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Davenport, IA versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,497 in Davenport, IA and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 8% higher in Lincoln, NE. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Davenport, IA
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$726
$851
+17% in Lincoln, NE
1 Bedroom
$777
$879
+13% in Lincoln, NE
2 Bedroom
$962
$1,070
+11% in Lincoln, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,117
$1,379
+23% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$248,200
+52% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$64,497
$69,991
+9% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,550
$49,800
+3% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
33.4 yr
+4.4 yr in Davenport, IA
Homeownership
63.0%
55.8%
+7.2 pp in Davenport, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.0%
41.0%
+11.0 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
18.7 min
18.3 min
+0.4 min in Davenport, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
581.4
363.1
+38% in Davenport, IA
Property Crime
3,559.6
2,484.4
+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
51.5°F
+2.2°F in Lincoln, NE
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
30.9 in
+5.2 in in Davenport, IA

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
13.3
+17% in Davenport, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$20.10
+9% 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 / NE)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
4.55%
+0.8 pp in NE

Davenport vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Lincoln?
Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Davenport than in Lincoln?
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 Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Lincoln?
Davenport is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).