City comparison
Rockford, IL vs Toledo, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Rockford, IL (92.2) and Toledo, OH (91.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Rockford, IL goes as far as $99,200 in Toledo, OH.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $895 a month in Rockford, IL versus $820 in Toledo, OH. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Rockford, IL and 13% in Toledo, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,838 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Toledo, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Rockford, IL to Toledo, OH ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −9.9% in real buying power.
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
- Toledo, OH: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Rockford, IL | Toledo, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.2 | 91.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,241 in Toledo | $100,764 in Rockford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $895/mo | $820/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,120 | $48,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Rockford, IL MSA and Toledo, OH MSA. Metro areas: Rockford, IL and Toledo, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Rockford | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.1 | 67.3 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.4 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 92.2 | 91.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Rockford, IL → Toledo, OH
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$2,838/yr.
71 Strong offer
Toledo, OH → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$2,838/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Rockford, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Toledo, OH is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Rockford, IL to Toledo, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Rockford, IL | Toledo, OH | Real change, Rockford → Toledo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −9.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −9.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −9.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −9.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −9.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Rockford, IL | Toledo, OH | Toledo pay in Rockford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,200 | $63,250 | $63,733 (−0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $107,640 | $104,360 | $105,158 (−2.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,260 | $77,400 | $77,992 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,930 | $81,050 | $81,669 (+0.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.