City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 10.7% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $110,700 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,805 in IL.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Charleston, SC to Peoria, IL changes real buying power by +10.7%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,362 in Peoria | $110,666 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Peoria, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.7%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$38/yr.
100 Strong offer
Peoria, IL → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$38/yr.
37 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Peoria, IL | Real change, Charleston → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +10.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +10.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +10.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +10.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +10.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $57,440 | $63,567 (+4.2%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $130,590 | $144,519 (+9.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $79,540 | $88,024 (+10.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $81,010 | $89,651 (−3.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.