City comparison
McAllen, TX vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Peoria, IL are 6.2% higher than in McAllen, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in McAllen, TX would need about $106,200 in Peoria, IL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $847 a month in McAllen, TX and $818 in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,805 a year higher in Peoria, IL than in McAllen, TX.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from McAllen, TX to Peoria, IL changes real buying power by −5.8%, purely from prices.
- McAllen, TX: price level 85.9 (much cheaper)
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| McAllen, TX | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 85.9 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,212 in Peoria | $94,151 in McAllen |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $847/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $35,830 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | McAllen | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 55.9 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 85.9 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
McAllen, TX → Peoria, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$4,805/yr.
50 Fair offer
Peoria, IL → McAllen, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$4,805/yr.
88 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from McAllen, TX to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | McAllen, TX | Peoria, IL | Real change, McAllen → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −5.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −5.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −5.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −5.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −5.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | McAllen, TX | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in McAllen dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $78,200 | $132,090 | $124,364 (+59.0%) |
| Software Developers | $116,120 | $130,590 | $122,952 (+5.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $64,470 | $79,540 | $74,888 (+16.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,540 | $81,010 | $76,272 (−5.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.