City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 22.2% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $122,200 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,383 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Washington, DC ($108,137 → $121,785), while prices change by +22.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.9% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $122,233 in Washington | $81,811 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −18.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,383/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +22.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$2,383/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Washington, DC | Real change, Davenport → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $70,623 | −7.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $85,447 | −7.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $102,415 | −7.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $121,785 | −7.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $143,913 | −7.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $79,470 | $65,015 (+5.5%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $154,930 | $126,750 (+9.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $102,140 | $83,562 (+7.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $102,710 | $84,028 (+8.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.