City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 13.6% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $113,600 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,805 a year higher in Peoria, IL than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.0% moving from Olympia, WA to Peoria, IL ($119,630 → $106,437), while prices change by −12.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.1% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
- 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
| Olympia, WA | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,001 in Peoria | $113,635 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Peoria, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.6%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$4,805/yr.
100 Strong offer
Peoria, IL → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.0%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$4,805/yr.
37 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Peoria, IL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Peoria, IL | Real change, Olympia → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $61,722 | +1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $74,678 | +1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $89,508 | +1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $106,437 | +1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $125,776 | +1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $57,440 | $65,272 (−37.6%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $130,590 | $148,395 (+19.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $79,540 | $90,385 (−4.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $81,010 | $92,055 (−26.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.