City comparison
Rockford, IL vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Rockford, IL are 4.0% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $104,000 in Rockford, IL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $895 a month in Rockford, IL and $883 in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,043 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Springfield, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Rockford, IL to Springfield, MO ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.9% in real buying power.
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Rockford, IL | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.2 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,127 in Springfield | $104,029 in Rockford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $895/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,120 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Rockford, IL MSA and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Rockford, IL and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Rockford | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.1 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 89.4 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 92.2 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Rockford, IL → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,043/yr.
81 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Rockford, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.9%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,043/yr.
57 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Rockford, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Springfield, MO is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Rockford, IL to Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Rockford, IL | Springfield, MO | Real change, Rockford → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −6.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −6.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −6.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −6.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −6.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Rockford, IL | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Rockford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $119,400 | $84,690 | $88,102 (−26.2%) |
| Software Developers | $107,640 | $102,350 | $106,474 (−1.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,260 | $73,020 | $75,962 (+0.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,930 | $79,370 | $82,568 (+2.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.