CostIndexUSA

Rockford, IL vs Tampa, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
FL
Tampa
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Rockford is moderately cheaper than Tampa — 9.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rockford, you would need $87,600 in Tampa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+79.5%
Rockford
70.1
Tampa
125.8
🛒 Groceries+2.0%
Rockford
93.6
Tampa
95.5
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Rockford
104.6
Tampa
102.4
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
Rockford
94.6
Tampa
92.7
Utilities1.0%
Rockford
89.4
Tampa
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tampa, FL
$87,600
$7,600 more needed in Tampa

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 92.2) = salary × 1.0944. 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×

Tampa, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Tampa has 79.5% 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

Tampa, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
399,700
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

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)

Tampa, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.