City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Pittsburgh, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 6.3% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $106,300 in Pittsburgh, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,077 a month in Pittsburgh, PA versus $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,148 a year in IA and $3,070 in PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.8% moving from Davenport, IA to Pittsburgh, PA ($108,137 → $110,047), while prices change by +6.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.2% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 94.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,278 in Pittsburgh | $94,093 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $1,077/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $49,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Pittsburgh, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 72.0 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 94.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Pittsburgh, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$78/yr.
50 Fair offer
Pittsburgh, PA → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.3%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$78/yr.
88 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Pittsburgh, PA is in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Pittsburgh, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Pittsburgh, PA | Real change, Davenport → Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $63,815 | −4.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $77,211 | −4.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $92,543 | −4.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $110,047 | −4.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $130,042 | −4.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $76,550 | $72,028 (+16.8%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $124,500 | $117,146 (+1.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $76,940 | $72,395 (−6.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $82,370 | $77,505 (+0.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.