City comparison
Des Moines, IA vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Des Moines, IA (91.7) and Rockford, IL (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Des Moines, IA goes as far as $100,500 in Rockford, IL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,109 a month in Des Moines, IA versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Des Moines, IA and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,657 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Des Moines, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +10.9% moving from Des Moines, IA to Rockford, IL ($107,301 → $118,984), while prices change by +0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.3% in real buying power.
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much cheaper)
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Des Moines, IA | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.7 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,494 in Rockford | $99,508 in Des Moines |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,109/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,820 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Des Moines | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.7 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 84.6 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 91.7 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Des Moines, IA → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,657/yr.
67 Fair offer
Rockford, IL → Des Moines, IA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,657/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Des Moines, IA is in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Des Moines, IA to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Des Moines, IA | Rockford, IL | Real change, Des Moines → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,223 | $68,999 | +10.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,284 | $83,482 | +10.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,234 | $100,059 | +10.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,301 | $118,984 | +10.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,797 | $140,604 | +10.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Des Moines, IA | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Des Moines dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $64,200 | $63,884 (+3.6%) |
| Software Developers | $126,460 | $107,640 | $107,111 (−15.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $75,260 | $74,890 (−5.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,630 | $80,930 | $80,532 (+2.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.