City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Des Moines, IA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Des Moines, IA are 2.9% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $102,900 in Des Moines, IA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,109 a month in Des Moines, IA versus $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Des Moines, IA and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- Both are in IA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,148 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.8% moving from Davenport, IA to Des Moines, IA ($108,137 → $107,301), while prices change by +2.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.6% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 91.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,943 in Des Moines | $97,141 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $1,109/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,148 (IA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $51,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 84.7 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 84.6 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 92.9 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 91.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Des Moines, IA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
60 Fair offer
Des Moines, IA → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
78 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Des Moines, IA is in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Des Moines, IA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Des Moines, IA | Real change, Davenport → Des Moines |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $62,223 | −3.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $75,284 | −3.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $90,234 | −3.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $107,301 | −3.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $126,797 | −3.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $61,650 | $59,887 (−2.9%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $126,460 | $122,844 (+6.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $79,290 | $77,023 (−0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $78,630 | $76,382 (−1.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.