City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Tuscaloosa, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Davenport, IA are 1.5% higher than in Tuscaloosa, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tuscaloosa, AL would need about $101,500 in Davenport, IA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $928 a month in Davenport, IA and $972 in Tuscaloosa, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,587 a year higher in Tuscaloosa, AL than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Tuscaloosa, AL ($108,137 → $107,510), while prices change by −1.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.0% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Tuscaloosa, AL: price level 87.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Tuscaloosa, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 87.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,477 in Tuscaloosa | $101,547 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $972/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% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $45,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Tuscaloosa, AL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 58.2 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 84.4 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 87.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Tuscaloosa, AL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.5%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$1,587/yr.
74 Strong offer
Tuscaloosa, AL → Davenport, IA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,587/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Tuscaloosa, AL is in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Tuscaloosa, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Tuscaloosa, AL | Real change, Davenport → Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $62,344 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $75,431 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $90,410 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $107,510 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $127,044 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Tuscaloosa, AL | Tuscaloosa pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $60,220 | $61,152 (−0.8%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $104,870 | $106,492 (−8.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $71,690 | $72,799 (−6.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $75,250 | $76,414 (−1.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.