City comparison
Reno, NV vs Rockford, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Reno, NV are 9.6% higher than in Rockford, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Rockford, IL would need about $109,600 in Reno, NV to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,489 a month in Reno, NV versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Reno, NV and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,805 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.4% moving from Reno, NV to Rockford, IL ($106,855 → $118,984), while prices change by −8.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +22.1% in real buying power.
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (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
| Reno, NV | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,229 in Rockford | $109,614 in Reno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,489/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Reno-Fernley, NV | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Reno, NV and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Reno | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.5 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Reno, NV → Rockford, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$4,805/yr.
99 Strong offer
Rockford, IL → Reno, NV
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.8%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$4,805/yr.
41 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Reno, NV is in the Reno-Fernley, NV pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Reno, NV to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Reno, NV | Rockford, IL | Real change, Reno → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,965 | $68,999 | +22.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,972 | $83,482 | +22.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,859 | $100,059 | +22.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,855 | $118,984 | +22.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,271 | $140,604 | +22.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Reno, NV | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Reno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,430 | $64,200 | $70,372 (+12.7%) |
| Software Developers | $125,710 | $107,640 | $117,989 (−6.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,370 | $75,260 | $82,496 (+0.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $107,520 | $80,930 | $88,711 (−17.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.