Cost of Living Comparison
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The most comprehensive cost of living comparison tool for US cities. Make informed relocation decisions with real data from trusted sources.

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Data: Zillow • Census • FBI • NOAA • BLS

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RockfordvsChicago

Moving from Rockford to Chicago will cost approximately $241,286 more on median home prices (85.0% higher). Monthly rent is $1,005 more expensive in Chicago. Note that median income is 0.0% lower in Chicago.

Housing
85.0% more
Rent
85.0% more
View RockfordView Chicago
Chicago

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Rockford, IL

Median Home Price$283,988
Monthly Rent$1,183
Median Income$73,194
Population149,346
Destination

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$525,274+85.0%
Monthly Rent
$2,189+85.0%
Median Income
$73,194+0.0%
Population2,720,556
Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Rockford

2015$630
2020$803
2025$1,183

Chicago

2015$1,513
2020$1,592
2025$2,189

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Chicago.

Rockford

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$38,899

Chicago

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$50,964
Costs

Key Insights

85.0%
Housing Cost
more expensive in Chicago
$1,005
Monthly Rent Difference
additional cost per month
0.0%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Rockford

Population149,346
Median Age36.3 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Chicago

Population2,720,556
Median Age34.2 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Rockford

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Chicago

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Rockford?

Rockford is 85.0% cheaper for housing than Chicago. The median home price in Rockford is $283,988 compared to $525,274 in Chicago.

What is the rent difference between Rockford and Chicago?

Monthly rent in Chicago averages $2,189, while Rockford averages $1,183. That's a difference of $1,005 per month, or $12,064 annually.

How do incomes compare between Rockford and Chicago?

The median household income in Chicago is $73,194, which is 0.0% lower than Rockford's median of $73,194.

Which city is safer: Rockford or Chicago?

Rockford has a violent crime rate of 345 per 100k residents, while Chicago has 345 per 100k. Rockford is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.