City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 13.6% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $113,600 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Chicago, IL and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- Both are in IL, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,805 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Chicago, IL to Peoria, IL ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.6% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- 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
| Chicago, IL | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,065 in Peoria | $113,552 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Peoria, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.6%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
100 Strong offer
Peoria, IL → Chicago, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
37 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Peoria, IL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Peoria, IL | Real change, Chicago → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | +1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | +1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | +1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | +1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | +1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $57,440 | $65,225 (−16.8%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $130,590 | $148,288 (+10.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $79,540 | $90,320 (+9.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $81,010 | $91,989 (−8.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.