CostIndexUSA

Rockford, IL vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
MN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Rockford is moderately cheaper than St. Paul — 13.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rockford, you would need $90,900 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+59.5%
Rockford
70.1
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries+10.1%
Rockford
93.6
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+4.8%
Rockford
104.6
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.9%
Rockford
94.6
St. Paul
99.2
Utilities+4.6%
Rockford
89.4
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$90,900
$10,900 more needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 92.2) = salary × 1.1367. 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×

St. Paul, MN

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
111.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

St. Paul has 59.5% 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

St. Paul, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
311,527
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationGovernmentManufacturing

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)

St. Paul, MN
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.