Living Cost Compare
Davenport

Iowa

$960/mo est.

vs
Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Davenport, IA versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,497 in Davenport, IA and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 18% higher in Reno, NV. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$726
$964
+33% in Reno, NV
1 Bedroom
$777
$1,206
+55% in Reno, NV
2 Bedroom
$962
$1,518
+58% in Reno, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,117
$1,885
+69% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$498,600
+206% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$64,497
$78,448
+22% in Reno, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,550
$49,660
+2% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
37.3 yr
+0.5 yr in Davenport, IA
Homeownership
63.0%
49.4%
+13.6 pp in Davenport, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.0%
35.7%
+5.7 pp in Reno, NV
Avg Commute
18.7 min
20.6 min
+1.9 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
581.4
528.9
+9% in Davenport, IA
Property Crime
3,559.6
2,489.3
+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
53.8°F
+4.5°F in Reno, NV
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
7.4 in
+28.6 in in Davenport, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.21/gal
+35% in Reno, NV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
13.1
+18% in Davenport, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$13.83
+38% in Davenport, IA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Reno, NV
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Reno, NV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Davenport, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Reno, NV
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Davenport, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / NV)
6%
6.85%
+0.8 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
None
+3.8 pp in IA

Davenport vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Davenport or Reno?
Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Davenport than in Reno?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Davenport versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Davenport or Reno?
Davenport is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).