City comparison
Columbus, GA vs Davenport, IA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Columbus, GA (89.3) and Davenport, IA (89.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Columbus, GA goes as far as $99,800 in Davenport, IA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $939 a month in Columbus, GA and $928 in Davenport, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,419 a year higher in Columbus, GA than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.9% moving from Columbus, GA to Davenport, IA ($112,556 → $108,137), while prices change by −0.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.7% in real buying power.
- Columbus, GA: price level 89.3 (much cheaper)
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Columbus, GA | Davenport, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.3 | 89.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,757 in Davenport | $100,244 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $939/mo | $928/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,148 (IA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,540 | $48,550 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL |
Rent areas: Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA. Metro areas: Columbus, GA-AL and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 61.2 | 68.3 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 89.7 | 89.9 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 93.5 |
| Overall | 89.3 | 89.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, GA → Davenport, IA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,419/yr.
70 Fair offer
Davenport, IA → Columbus, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,419/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbus, GA is in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL pay area; Davenport, IA is in Davenport-Moline, IA-IL. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbus, GA to Davenport, IA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, GA | Davenport, IA | Real change, Columbus → Davenport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,271 | $62,708 | −3.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,972 | $75,871 | −3.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $94,654 | $90,937 | −3.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $112,556 | $108,137 | −3.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,007 | $127,786 | −3.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, GA | Davenport, IA | Davenport pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,360 | $61,650 | $61,800 (+0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $116,150 | $115,780 | $116,062 (−0.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,640 | $77,600 | $77,789 (+5.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,500 | $77,150 | $77,338 (−6.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.