City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Grand Rapids, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Grand Rapids, MI are 7.3% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $107,300 in Grand Rapids, MI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,278 a month in Grand Rapids, MI versus $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Grand Rapids, MI and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $851 a year higher in Grand Rapids, MI than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Grand Rapids, MI ($108,137 → $106,437), while prices change by +7.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.2% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Grand Rapids, MI: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Grand Rapids, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,260 in Grand Rapids | $93,232 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $1,278/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $47,570 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 93.8 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Grand Rapids, MI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.8%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$851/yr.
48 Fair offer
Grand Rapids, MI → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.3%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$851/yr.
91 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Grand Rapids, MI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Grand Rapids, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Grand Rapids, MI | Real change, Davenport → Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $61,722 | −8.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $74,678 | −8.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $89,508 | −8.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $106,437 | −8.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $125,776 | −8.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $61,900 | $57,710 (−6.4%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $107,520 | $100,243 (−13.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $76,270 | $71,108 (−8.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $83,920 | $78,240 (+1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.