City comparison
Peoria, IL vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Peoria, IL are 3.0% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $103,000 in Peoria, IL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $883 a month in Springfield, MO versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Springfield, MO and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,043 a year higher in Peoria, IL than in Springfield, MO.
- 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 Peoria, IL to Springfield, MO changes real buying power by +3.0%, purely from prices.
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Peoria, IL | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.2 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,100 in Springfield | $102,987 in Peoria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $818/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,590 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Peoria, IL MSA and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Peoria, IL and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Peoria | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 63.8 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 90.5 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 91.2 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Peoria, IL → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,043/yr.
78 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Peoria, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.9%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$1,043/yr.
60 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 Peoria, IL to Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Peoria, IL | Springfield, MO | Real change, Peoria → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Peoria, IL | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Peoria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,440 | $49,380 | $50,855 (−11.5%) |
| Software Developers | $130,590 | $102,350 | $105,407 (−19.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,540 | $73,020 | $75,201 (−5.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $79,370 | $81,741 (+0.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.