City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Lincoln, NE
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lincoln, NE are 2.8% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $102,800 in Lincoln, NE to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $928 a month in Davenport, IA and $926 in Lincoln, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $522 a year higher in Lincoln, NE than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Lincoln, NE ($108,137 → $106,437), while prices change by +2.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.3% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Lincoln, NE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 91.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,809 in Lincoln | $97,268 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,510 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,670 (NE) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $49,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Lincoln, NE.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 84.2 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 76.8 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 91.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Lincoln, NE
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$522/yr.
60 Fair offer
Lincoln, NE → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$522/yr.
78 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Lincoln, NE is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Lincoln, NE at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Lincoln, NE | Real change, Davenport → Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $61,722 | −4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $74,678 | −4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $89,508 | −4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $106,437 | −4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $125,776 | −4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Lincoln, NE | Lincoln pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $61,940 | $60,248 (−2.3%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $101,690 | $98,912 (−14.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $65,170 | $63,390 (−18.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $87,530 | $85,139 (+10.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.