Cedar Rapids, IA vs Rockford, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rockford, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.2% higher than Cedar Rapids, IA.

Cedar Rapids, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,080 / month
Rockford, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,110 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Cedar Rapids, IA and Rockford, IL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Cedar Rapids, IA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $657/month in Rockford, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,886 in Rockford, IL

Regional cost estimates: Cedar Rapids, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Rockford, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 12.2%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$657

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$7.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Population:136K

Cost Index:

92.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$197K

Rockford, IL

Population:146K

Cost Index:

103.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$158K

Planning the move to Rockford?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Cedar Rapids, IA

The Hawkeye State

136K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 136K residents.

Rockford, IL

The Prairie State

146K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 146K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Cedar Rapids, IA vs Rockford, IL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Cedar Rapids, IA	Rockford, IL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,238/mo	$2,566/mo	↑ $328more	14.6%
Other	$1,730/mo	$1,854/mo	↑ $124more	7.1%
Transportation	$1,338/mo	$1,456/mo	↑ $118more	8.8%
Groceries	$968/mo	$1,001/mo	↑ $33.24more	3.4%
All Utilities	$500/mo	$530/mo	↑ $30.15more	6.0%
Healthcare	$726/mo	$750/mo	↑ $24.63more	3.4%

Housing

↑ 14.6%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$2,238

Rockford, IL

$2,566

Difference

$328

Other

↑ 7.1%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$1,730

Rockford, IL

$1,854

Difference

$124

Transportation

↑ 8.8%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$1,338

Rockford, IL

$1,456

Difference

$118

Groceries

↑ 3.4%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$968

Rockford, IL

$1,001

Difference

$33.24

All Utilities

↑ 6.0%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$500

Rockford, IL

$530

Difference

$30.15

Healthcare

↑ 3.4%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$726

Rockford, IL

$750

Difference

$24.63

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$740

To$770

↑ $30.00

1 Bed

From$825

To$850

↑ $25.00

2 Bed

From$1,080

To$1,110

↑ $30.00

3 Bed

From$1,500

To$1,470

↓ $30.00

Cedar Rapids, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$930/mo

Rockford, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$1,130/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Cedar Rapids, IA

$8,157

Monthly in Rockford, IL

$657

Difference

Home Values

Cedar Rapids

Rockford

$197K

Median Value

$158K

↑ +3.9%

YoY Change

↑ +8.6%

↑ +29.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +69.3%

$117K - $432K

Price Range

$102K - $256K

Homes in Rockford are 20% less expensive than Cedar Rapids

Calculate payment - Cedar Rapids Calculate payment - Rockford

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $3.3K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$273

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.2%

Rate difference

Cedar Rapids, IA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Iowa State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.7K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.7K

Take-Home Pay

$8,524/month

$102.3K

Rockford, IL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Illinois State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,797/month

$105.6K

Additional Tax Information

Cedar Rapids, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

Rockford, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Cedar Rapids

Rockford

45 Good

Air Quality

42 Good

67.5%

Good Air Days

72.1%

92 Moderate

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌡☀🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

25 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

25 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Cedar Rapids, IA to Rockford, IL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Rockford, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Cedar Rapids, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Cedar Rapids to Rockford moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Rockford, IL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Cedar Rapids, IA vs Rockford, IL

How do the cost estimates for Cedar Rapids, IA and Rockford, IL compare?

Rockford, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.2% higher than Cedar Rapids, IA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, IA, the model estimates $157,886 in Rockford, IL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Cedar Rapids, IA and Rockford, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,080/month in Cedar Rapids, IA and $1,110/month in Rockford, IL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Iowa and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com