City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Fresno, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fresno, CA are 14.7% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $114,700 in Fresno, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,355 a month in Fresno, CA versus $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Fresno, CA and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,922 a year higher in Fresno, CA than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Davenport, IA to Fresno, CA ($108,137 → $106,973), while prices change by +14.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −13.7% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Fresno, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 102.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $114,682 in Fresno | $87,197 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $1,355/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $46,910 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Fresno, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Fresno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 95.7 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 161.0 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 102.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Fresno, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,922/yr.
38 Weak offer
Fresno, CA → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,922/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Fresno, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Fresno, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Fresno, CA | Real change, Davenport → Fresno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $62,033 | −13.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $75,055 | −13.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $89,959 | −13.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $106,973 | −13.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $126,410 | −13.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Fresno, CA | Fresno pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $78,800 | $68,711 (+11.5%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $129,060 | $112,537 (−2.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $78,690 | $68,616 (−11.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $125,420 | $109,363 (+41.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.