City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lincoln, NE (91.6) and Rockford, IL (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lincoln, NE goes as far as $100,600 in Rockford, IL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $926 a month in Lincoln, NE and $895 in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,135 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Lincoln, NE.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Lincoln, NE to Rockford, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by +0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.1% in real buying power.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Lincoln, NE | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,626 in Rockford | $99,378 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,135/yr.
67 Fair offer
Rockford, IL → Lincoln, NE
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,135/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lincoln, NE 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 Lincoln, NE to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Rockford, IL | Real change, Lincoln → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +11.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +11.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +11.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +11.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +11.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $64,200 | $63,801 (+3.0%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $107,640 | $106,971 (+5.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $75,260 | $74,792 (+14.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $80,930 | $80,427 (−8.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.