City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Lafayette, LA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Davenport, IA are 2.1% higher than in Lafayette, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Lafayette, LA would need about $102,100 in Davenport, IA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $928 a month in Davenport, IA and $898 in Lafayette, LA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $534 a year higher in Davenport, IA than in Lafayette, LA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Lafayette, LA ($108,137 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.5% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Lafayette, LA: price level 87.2 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Lafayette, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 87.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,901 in Lafayette | $102,144 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $898/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $76,566 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $2,614 (LA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $41,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Lafayette, LA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Lafayette, LA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 58.8 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 71.2 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 95.7 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 87.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Lafayette, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.1%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$534/yr.
75 Strong offer
Lafayette, LA → Davenport, IA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$534/yr.
62 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Lafayette, LA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Lafayette, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Lafayette, LA | Real change, Davenport → Lafayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $61,722 | +0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $74,678 | +0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $89,508 | +0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $106,437 | +0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $125,776 | +0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Lafayette, LA | Lafayette pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $47,770 | $48,794 (−20.9%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $109,010 | $111,347 (−3.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $67,630 | $69,080 (−11.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $81,960 | $83,717 (+8.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.