City comparison
Rockford, IL vs Shreveport, LA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rockford, IL are 8.7% higher than in Shreveport, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Shreveport, LA would need about $108,700 in Rockford, IL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $982 a month in Shreveport, LA versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Shreveport, LA and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,191 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Shreveport, LA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Rockford, IL to Shreveport, LA ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.7% in real buying power.
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
- Shreveport, LA: price level 84.8 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Rockford, IL | Shreveport, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.2 | 84.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,983 in Shreveport | $108,716 in Rockford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $895/mo | $982/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $76,566 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $2,614 (LA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,120 | $44,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Rockford, IL MSA and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA. Metro areas: Rockford, IL and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Rockford | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.1 | 52.3 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 89.4 | 72.6 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 95.7 |
| Overall | 92.2 | 84.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Rockford, IL → Shreveport, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$2,191/yr.
96 Strong offer
Shreveport, LA → Rockford, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$2,191/yr.
44 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Rockford, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Shreveport, LA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Rockford, IL to Shreveport, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Rockford, IL | Shreveport, LA | Real change, Rockford → Shreveport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Rockford, IL | Shreveport, LA | Shreveport pay in Rockford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,200 | $61,850 | $67,241 (+4.7%) |
| Software Developers | $107,640 | $96,680 | $105,106 (−2.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,260 | $70,420 | $76,558 (+1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,930 | $80,080 | $87,060 (+7.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.