Kent vs Peoria
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Kent
Peoria
The Verdict
Peoria is 80.3% less expensive than Kent overall. A household earning $75,000 in Kent would need approximately $41,606 in Peoria to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Kent has the same purchasing power as $41,606 in Peoria.
Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $135,197 in Kent.
Living in Kent vs Peoria
Housing Costs
Kent's housing index of 195 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $595,000 vs $164,000. The $431,000 difference in home prices means roughly $28,020 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,750/mo in Kent compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $750.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 109 in Kent and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $518/month in Kent vs $461/month in Peoria. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Kent and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Kent vs $412 in Peoria. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 122 in Kent and 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $98,300 in Kent and $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,752 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,294/month to housing in Kent vs $1,370/month in Peoria. In Kent, median rent of $1,750/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 153 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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