City comparison
Montgomery, AL vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Peoria, IL are 1.7% higher than in Montgomery, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Montgomery, AL would need about $101,700 in Peoria, IL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $870 a month in Montgomery, AL versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Montgomery, AL and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,735 a year in AL 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 Montgomery, AL to Peoria, IL changes real buying power by −1.7%, purely from prices.
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much 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
| Montgomery, AL | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.7 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,727 in Peoria | $98,302 in Montgomery |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $870/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,950 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Montgomery, AL MSA and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Montgomery, AL and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Montgomery | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.3 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 84.9 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 89.7 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Montgomery, AL → Peoria, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$70/yr.
63 Fair offer
Peoria, IL → Montgomery, AL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$70/yr.
74 Strong 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 Montgomery, AL to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Montgomery, AL | Peoria, IL | Real change, Montgomery → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −1.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −1.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −1.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −1.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −1.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Montgomery, AL | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Montgomery dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,610 | $57,440 | $56,465 (−5.3%) |
| Software Developers | $110,620 | $130,590 | $128,373 (+16.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,040 | $79,540 | $78,190 (+4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,570 | $81,010 | $79,635 (+0.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.