City comparison
Rockford, IL vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rockford, IL are 1.2% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $101,200 in Rockford, IL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,083 a month in Spartanburg, SC versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Spartanburg, SC and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,805 a year in IL and $4,843 in SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Rockford, IL to Spartanburg, SC ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −9.5% in real buying power.
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Rockford, IL | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.2 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,803 in Spartanburg | $101,211 in Rockford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $895/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,120 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Rockford, IL MSA and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Rockford, IL and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Rockford | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.1 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.4 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 92.2 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Rockford, IL → Spartanburg, SC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$38/yr.
73 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$38/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Rockford, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Rockford, IL to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Rockford, IL | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Rockford → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −9.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −9.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −9.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −9.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −9.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Rockford, IL | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Rockford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,200 | $60,990 | $61,729 (−3.8%) |
| Software Developers | $107,640 | $114,460 | $115,847 (+7.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,260 | $77,080 | $78,014 (+3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,930 | $82,360 | $83,358 (+3.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.