City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 9.6% higher than in Rockford, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Rockford, IL would need about $109,600 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,805 in IL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Charleston, SC to Rockford, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by −8.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +22.5% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,276 in Rockford | $109,558 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Rockford, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$38/yr.
99 Strong offer
Rockford, IL → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$38/yr.
40 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Rockford, IL | Real change, Charleston → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +22.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +22.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +22.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +22.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +22.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $64,200 | $70,336 (+15.3%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $107,640 | $117,928 (−10.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $75,260 | $82,453 (+3.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $80,930 | $88,665 (−4.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.