CostIndexUSA

El Paso, TX vs Rockford, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
El Paso
89.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
IL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

El Paso is slightly cheaper than Rockford — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in El Paso, you would need $82,000 in Rockford. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing1.5%
El Paso
71.2
Rockford
70.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
El Paso
93.8
Rockford
93.6
🚗 Transportation+3.5%
El Paso
101.1
Rockford
104.6
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
El Paso
91.4
Rockford
94.6
Utilities+8.2%
El Paso
82.6
Rockford
89.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rockford, IL
$82,000
$2,000 more needed in Rockford

Formula: salary × (92.2 ÷ 89.9) = salary × 1.0256. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

El Paso, TX

Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
71.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.6×

Rockford, IL

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

El Paso has 1.5% lower housing costs compared to Rockford.

Income & Job Market

El Paso, TX

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
678,815
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

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).

El Paso, TX
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.