Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Norman?

Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Norman, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Norman.

Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Norman?

Davenport is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Davenport vs Norman Cost of Living 2026

Davenport

Iowa

$960/mo est.

Norman

Oklahoma

$1,050/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Davenport, IA versus $1,050 in Norman, OK. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,497 in Davenport, IA and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 1% higher in Norman, OK. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Davenport, IA

Norman, OK

Rent

Studio

$726

$820

+13% in Norman, OK

1 Bedroom

$777

$863

+11% in Norman, OK

2 Bedroom

$962

$1,056

+10% in Norman, OK

3 Bedroom

$1,117

$1,377

+23% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$162,900

$239,300

+47% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income

$64,497

$65,060

+1% in Norman, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,550

$47,230

+3% in Davenport, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.8 yr

31.6 yr

+6.2 yr in Davenport, IA

Homeownership

63.0%

52.7%

+10.3 pp in Davenport, IA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

46.2%

+16.2 pp in Norman, OK

Avg Commute

18.7 min

22.2 min

+3.5 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

581.4

268.6

+54% in Davenport, IA

Property Crime

3,559.6

2,294.1

+36% 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

61.5°F

+12.2°F in Norman, OK

Annual Precipitation

36.0 in

36.5 in

+0.5 in in Norman, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

14.3

+10% in Davenport, IA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.16

$31.25

+41% in Norman, OK

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 Norman, OK

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 / OK)

4.5%

+1.5 pp in IA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.80%

4.50%

+0.7 pp in OK

Davenport vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Norman?: Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Norman, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Davenport than in Norman?: 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 Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Norman?: Davenport is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).