City comparison
McAllen, TX vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rockford, IL are 7.3% higher than in McAllen, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in McAllen, TX would need about $107,300 in Rockford, IL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $895 a month in Rockford, IL versus $847 in McAllen, TX. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Rockford, IL and 13% in McAllen, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,805 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in McAllen, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from McAllen, TX to Rockford, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by +7.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.2% in real buying power.
- McAllen, TX: price level 85.9 (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
| McAllen, TX | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 85.9 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,287 in Rockford | $93,208 in McAllen |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $847/mo | $895/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% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $35,830 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | McAllen | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 55.9 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 85.9 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
McAllen, TX → Rockford, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$4,805/yr.
48 Fair offer
Rockford, IL → McAllen, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.3%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$4,805/yr.
92 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
McAllen, TX 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 McAllen, TX to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | McAllen, TX | Rockford, IL | Real change, McAllen → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +4.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +4.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +4.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +4.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +4.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | McAllen, TX | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in McAllen dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,110 | $64,200 | $59,840 (−5.2%) |
| Software Developers | $116,120 | $107,640 | $100,329 (−13.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $64,470 | $75,260 | $70,148 (+8.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,540 | $80,930 | $75,433 (−6.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.