City Comparison

Overland Park vs Rockford

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Overland Park

Kansas
106
Above Average
$414,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$104,800
Median Income

Rockford

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

The Verdict

34.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 34.2%, with Rockford being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Overland Park has equivalent purchasing power to $55,896 in Rockford.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
109
Overland Park
52
Rockford
Groceries
96
Overland Park
99
Rockford
Utilities
98
Overland Park
92
Rockford
Transportation
95
Overland Park
101
Rockford
Healthcare
102
Overland Park
106
Rockford

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Overland Park has the same purchasing power as $55,896 in Rockford.

Conversely, $75,000 in Rockford equals $100,633 in Overland Park.

Living in Overland Park vs Rockford

Housing Costs

Overland Park's housing index of 109 is higher Rockford's 52, translating to median home prices of $414,000 vs $155,000. The $259,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,836 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Overland Park compared to $950/mo in Rockford, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Overland Park and 99 in Rockford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Overland Park 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 98 in Overland Park and 92 in Rockford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Overland Park vs $368 in Rockford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Overland Park 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 $104,800 in Overland Park and $53,300 in Rockford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $98,868 and $67,468 respectively. Overland Park residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,445/month to housing in Overland Park vs $1,244/month in Rockford. In Overland Park, median rent of $1,450/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 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rockford is 34.2% more affordable overall with an index of 79 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Overland Park has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $55,896 in Rockford, based on the cost of living difference.
Overland Park's housing index is 109 with median homes at $414,000, while Rockford's is 52 with median homes at $155,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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