City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 6.2% higher than in Rockford, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Rockford, IL would need about $106,200 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $4,805 in IL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +7.0% moving from Richmond, VA to Rockford, IL ($111,183 → $118,984), while prices change by −5.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +13.6% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (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
| Richmond, VA | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,171 in Rockford | $106,190 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Rockford, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$131/yr.
88 Strong offer
Rockford, IL → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$131/yr.
51 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Rockford, IL | Real change, Richmond → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $68,999 | +13.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $83,482 | +13.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $100,059 | +13.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $118,984 | +13.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $140,604 | +13.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $64,200 | $68,174 (+11.2%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $107,640 | $114,303 (−13.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $75,260 | $79,918 (−5.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $80,930 | $85,939 (−8.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.