CostIndexUSA

Abilene, TX vs Rockford, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Abilene
90.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
IL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Abilene is slightly cheaper than Rockford — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $81,600 in Rockford. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing5.0%
Abilene
73.8
Rockford
70.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Abilene
93.8
Rockford
93.6
🚗 Transportation+3.5%
Abilene
101.1
Rockford
104.6
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
Abilene
91.4
Rockford
94.6
Utilities+10.1%
Abilene
81.2
Rockford
89.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Abilene to see what you'd need to earn in Rockford to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Rockford, IL
$81,600
$1,600 more needed in Rockford

Formula: salary × (92.2 ÷ 90.4) = salary × 1.0199. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Abilene, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
9.4×

Rockford, IL

Median Home Price
$206,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
70.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.3×

Abilene has 5.0% lower housing costs compared to Rockford.

Income & Job Market

Abilene, TX

Median Household Income
$61,300
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
124,451
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryEducationRetailManufacturing

Rockford, IL

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
148,123
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Abilene, TX
2.9×income-to-rent ratio

65% of income left after rent (median)

Rockford, IL
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.