City comparison
Peoria, IL vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rockford, IL are 1.0% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $101,000 in Rockford, IL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $895 a month in Rockford, IL versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Rockford, IL and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- Both are in IL, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,805 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Peoria, IL to Rockford, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by +1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.7% in real buying power.
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (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
| Peoria, IL | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.2 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,012 in Rockford | $98,998 in Peoria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $818/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,590 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Peoria, IL MSA and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Peoria, IL and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Peoria | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 63.8 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 90.5 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 91.2 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Peoria, IL → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
66 Fair offer
Rockford, IL → Peoria, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Peoria, IL 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 Peoria, IL to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Peoria, IL | Rockford, IL | Real change, Peoria → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +10.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +10.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +10.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +10.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +10.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Peoria, IL | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Peoria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,440 | $64,200 | $63,557 (+10.6%) |
| Software Developers | $130,590 | $107,640 | $106,562 (−18.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,540 | $75,260 | $74,506 (−6.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $80,930 | $80,119 (−1.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.