City comparison
Rockford, IL vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rockford, IL are 3.6% higher than in Wichita, KS. Someone earning $100,000 in Wichita, KS would need about $103,600 in Rockford, IL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $895 a month in Rockford, IL versus $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Rockford, IL and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,805 a year in IL and $4,780 in KS.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Rockford, IL to Wichita, KS ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.3% in real buying power.
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
- Wichita, KS: price level 88.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Rockford, IL | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.2 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,519 in Wichita | $103,607 in Rockford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $895/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,120 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Rockford, IL MSA and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Rockford, IL and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Rockford | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.1 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 89.4 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 92.2 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Rockford, IL → Wichita, KS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$25/yr.
80 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Rockford, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.5%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$25/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Rockford, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Wichita, KS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Rockford, IL to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Rockford, IL | Wichita, KS | Real change, Rockford → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −7.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −7.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −7.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −7.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −7.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Rockford, IL | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Rockford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,200 | $58,640 | $60,755 (−5.4%) |
| Software Developers | $107,640 | $105,980 | $109,802 (+2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,260 | $79,270 | $82,129 (+9.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,930 | $76,540 | $79,301 (−2.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.