City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Dayton, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Dayton, OH are 4.1% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $104,100 in Dayton, OH to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,009 a month in Dayton, OH versus $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 16% of take-home pay in Dayton, OH and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,181 a year higher in Davenport, IA than in Dayton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.1% moving from Davenport, IA to Dayton, OH ($108,137 → $110,401), while prices change by +4.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.9% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Dayton, OH: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Dayton, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,058 in Dayton | $96,100 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $1,009/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $49,980 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 72.7 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 95.4 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Dayton, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.9%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$1,181/yr.
57 Fair offer
Dayton, OH → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,181/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Dayton, OH is in Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Dayton, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Dayton, OH | Real change, Davenport → Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $64,021 | −1.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $77,460 | −1.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $92,841 | −1.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $110,401 | −1.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $130,461 | −1.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Dayton, OH | Dayton pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $80,360 | $77,226 (+25.3%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $106,910 | $102,741 (−11.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $79,030 | $75,948 (−2.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $82,510 | $79,292 (+2.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.