City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 10.2% higher than in Rockford, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Rockford, IL would need about $110,200 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,115 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Rockford, IL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Eugene, OR to Rockford, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by −9.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +23.2% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- 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
| Eugene, OR | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,731 in Rockford | $110,216 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Rockford, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$3,115/yr.
100 Strong offer
Rockford, IL → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.3%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,115/yr.
40 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Rockford, IL | Real change, Eugene → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +23.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +23.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +23.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +23.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +23.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $64,200 | $70,758 (+10.1%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $107,640 | $118,636 (−2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $75,260 | $82,948 (+3.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $80,930 | $89,197 (−21.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.