City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Montgomery, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Davenport, IA (89.1) and Montgomery, AL (89.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Davenport, IA goes as far as $100,700 in Montgomery, AL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $928 a month in Davenport, IA versus $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Davenport, IA and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,587 a year higher in Montgomery, 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 Montgomery, AL ($108,137 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.2% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Montgomery, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 89.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,677 in Montgomery | $99,328 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $870/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% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $44,950 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Montgomery, AL MSA. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Montgomery, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 64.3 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 84.9 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 89.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Montgomery, AL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,587/yr.
67 Fair offer
Montgomery, AL → Davenport, IA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,587/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Montgomery, AL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Montgomery, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Montgomery, AL | Real change, Davenport → Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $61,722 | −2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $74,678 | −2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $89,508 | −2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $106,437 | −2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $125,776 | −2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $59,610 | $59,209 (−4.0%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $110,620 | $109,876 (−5.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $75,040 | $74,535 (−3.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $79,570 | $79,035 (+2.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.