City comparison
Peoria, IL vs Phoenix, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 13.2% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $113,200 in Phoenix, AZ to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,583 a month in Phoenix, AZ versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,514 a year higher in Peoria, IL than in Phoenix, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.6% moving from Peoria, IL to Phoenix, AZ ($106,437 → $111,338), while prices change by +13.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.6% in real buying power.
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Peoria, IL | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.2 | 103.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $113,247 in Phoenix | $88,303 in Peoria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $818/mo | $1,583/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,590 | $51,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ |
Rent areas: Peoria, IL MSA and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Peoria, IL and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Peoria | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 63.8 | 121.2 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 95.0 |
| Utilities | 90.5 | 93.3 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 104.0 |
| Overall | 91.2 | 103.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Peoria, IL → Phoenix, AZ
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$2,514/yr.
38 Weak offer
Phoenix, AZ → Peoria, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.2%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$2,514/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Peoria, IL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Phoenix, AZ is in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Peoria, IL to Phoenix, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Peoria, IL | Phoenix, AZ | Real change, Peoria → Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,564 | −7.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,117 | −7.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,629 | −7.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,338 | −7.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,568 | −7.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Peoria, IL | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix pay in Peoria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,440 | $59,180 | $52,258 (−9.0%) |
| Software Developers | $130,590 | $131,750 | $116,339 (−10.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,540 | $80,820 | $71,366 (−10.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $100,830 | $89,036 (+9.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.