CostIndexUSA

Johnson City, TN vs Rockford, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Johnson City
87.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
IL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Johnson City is slightly cheaper than Rockford — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Johnson City, you would need $83,900 in Rockford. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+10.9%
Johnson City
63.2
Rockford
70.1
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Johnson City
96.2
Rockford
93.6
🚗 Transportation+4.7%
Johnson City
99.9
Rockford
104.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.6%
Johnson City
90.4
Rockford
94.6
Utilities+24.3%
Johnson City
71.9
Rockford
89.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rockford, IL
$83,900
$3,900 more needed in Rockford

Formula: salary × (92.2 ÷ 87.9) = salary × 1.0489. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Johnson City, TN

Median Home Price
$270,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
63.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

Rockford, IL

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

Rockford has 10.9% higher housing costs compared to Johnson City.

Income & Job Market

Johnson City, TN

Median Household Income
$56,800
Per Capita Income
$32,400
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
68,006
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

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).

Johnson City, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.