City Comparison

Beaumont vs Rockford

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Rockford

Illinois
79
Very Affordable
$155,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$53,300
Median Income

The Verdict

1.3%

Beaumont is 1.3% less expensive than Rockford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $75,962 in Rockford to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
52
Rockford
Groceries
96
Beaumont
99
Rockford
Utilities
102
Beaumont
92
Rockford
Transportation
93
Beaumont
101
Rockford
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
106
Rockford

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $75,962 in Rockford.

Conversely, $75,000 in Rockford equals $74,051 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Rockford

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is higher Rockford's 52, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $155,000. The $11,000 difference in home prices means roughly $720 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $950/mo in Rockford, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 99 in Rockford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $470/month in Rockford. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 92 in Rockford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $368 in Rockford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 106 in Rockford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $53,300 in Rockford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $67,468 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,244/month in Rockford. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Rockford, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 1.3% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 79.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,962 in Rockford, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Rockford's is 52 with median homes at $155,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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