CostIndexUSA

Champaign, IL vs Rockford, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostIL
Champaign
92.7
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
IL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Champaign and Rockford have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing2.1%
Champaign
71.6
Rockford
70.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Champaign
93.6
Rockford
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Champaign
104.6
Rockford
104.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Champaign
94.6
Rockford
94.6
Utilities1.2%
Champaign
90.5
Rockford
89.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Champaign to see what you'd need to earn in Rockford to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Rockford, IL
$79,600
$400 less needed in Rockford

Formula: salary × (92.2 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 0.9946. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Champaign, IL

Median Home Price
$224,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.6×

Rockford, IL

Median Home Price
$206,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
70.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.3×

Champaign has 2.1% lower housing costs compared to Rockford.

Income & Job Market

Champaign, IL

Median Household Income
$62,100
Per Capita Income
$35,400
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
88,302
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyAgricultureRetail

Rockford, IL

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
148,123
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Champaign, IL
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Rockford, IL
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.