City comparison
Columbia, SC vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Columbia, SC are 2.7% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $102,700 in Columbia, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,164 a month in Columbia, SC versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Columbia, 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 Columbia, SC to Peoria, IL changes real buying power by +2.7%, purely from prices.
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)
- 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
| Columbia, SC | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.7 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,404 in Peoria | $102,665 in Columbia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,164/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 | 19% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,430 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Columbia, SC and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbia | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 79.5 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 93.7 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbia, SC → Peoria, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.7%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$38/yr.
77 Strong offer
Peoria, IL → Columbia, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$38/yr.
61 Fair 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 Columbia, SC to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbia, SC | Peoria, IL | Real change, Columbia → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbia, SC | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Columbia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,050 | $57,440 | $58,971 (−1.8%) |
| Software Developers | $123,380 | $130,590 | $134,070 (+8.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $69,210 | $79,540 | $81,659 (+18.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,920 | $81,010 | $83,169 (+1.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.