City comparison
Peoria, IL vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Utica, NY are 1.6% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $101,600 in Utica, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $926 a month in Utica, NY versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Utica, NY and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,805 a year in IL and $4,860 in NY.
- 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 Utica, NY changes real buying power by −1.6%, purely from prices.
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Peoria, IL | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.2 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,586 in Utica | $98,439 in Peoria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $818/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,590 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Peoria, IL MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Peoria, IL and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Peoria | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 63.8 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 90.5 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 91.2 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Peoria, IL → Utica, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −1.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$55/yr.
64 Fair offer
Utica, NY → Peoria, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.6%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$55/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 Peoria, IL to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Peoria, IL | Utica, NY | Real change, Peoria → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Peoria, IL | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Peoria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,440 | $77,010 | $75,808 (+32.0%) |
| Software Developers | $130,590 | $113,390 | $111,620 (−14.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,540 | $79,830 | $78,584 (−1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $94,300 | $92,828 (+14.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.