City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Mobile, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Davenport, IA are 1.1% higher than in Mobile, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Mobile, AL would need about $101,100 in Davenport, IA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $928 a month in Davenport, IA and $919 in Mobile, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,587 a year higher in Mobile, AL than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Mobile, AL ($108,137 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.5% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Mobile, AL: price level 88.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Mobile, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 88.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,899 in Mobile | $101,114 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $919/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $47,000 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Mobile, AL MSA. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Mobile, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 60.1 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 84.2 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 88.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Mobile, AL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,587/yr.
72 Strong offer
Mobile, AL → Davenport, IA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,587/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Mobile, AL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Mobile, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Mobile, AL | Real change, Davenport → Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $61,722 | −0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $74,678 | −0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $89,508 | −0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $106,437 | −0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $125,776 | −0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Mobile, AL | Mobile pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $60,970 | $61,649 (−0.0%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $122,540 | $123,905 (+7.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $72,130 | $72,933 (−6.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $79,490 | $80,375 (+4.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.