CostIndexUSA

Rockford, IL vs San Bernardino, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
CA
San Bernardino
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Rockford is significantly cheaper than San Bernardino — 15.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rockford, you would need $92,300 in San Bernardino. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+84.5%
Rockford
70.1
San Bernardino
129.3
🛒 Groceries+8.3%
Rockford
93.6
San Bernardino
101.4
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Rockford
104.6
San Bernardino
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Rockford
94.6
San Bernardino
96.2
Utilities+66.2%
Rockford
89.4
San Bernardino
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Bernardino, CA
$92,300
$12,300 more needed in San Bernardino

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 92.2) = salary × 1.1540. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Rockford, IL

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

San Bernardino, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

San Bernardino has 84.5% higher housing costs compared to Rockford.

Income & Job Market

Rockford, IL

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

San Bernardino, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
222,101
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsGovernmentRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Rockford, IL
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

San Bernardino, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.