CostIndexUSA

Rockford, IL vs Springfield, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostIL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
IL
Springfield
92.7
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Rockford and Springfield have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+2.1%
Rockford
70.1
Springfield
71.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Rockford
93.6
Springfield
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Rockford
104.6
Springfield
104.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Rockford
94.6
Springfield
94.6
Utilities+1.1%
Rockford
89.4
Springfield
90.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Springfield, IL
$80,400
$400 more needed in Springfield

Formula: salary × (92.7 ÷ 92.2) = salary × 1.0054. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Rockford, IL

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

Springfield, IL

Median Home Price
$188,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.6×

Springfield has 2.1% higher housing costs compared to Rockford.

Income & Job Market

Rockford, IL

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

Springfield, IL

Median Household Income
$72,200
Per Capita Income
$41,200
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
114,230
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationFinanceRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Rockford, IL
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Springfield, IL
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.