Pembroke Pines vs Rockford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Pembroke Pines
Rockford
The Verdict
Rockford is 40.5% less expensive than Pembroke Pines overall. A household earning $75,000 in Pembroke Pines would need approximately $53,378 in Rockford 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 Pembroke Pines has the same purchasing power as $53,378 in Rockford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Rockford equals $105,380 in Pembroke Pines.
Living in Pembroke Pines vs Rockford
Housing Costs
Pembroke Pines's housing index of 140 is higher Rockford's 52, translating to median home prices of $440,000 vs $155,000. The $285,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,528 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,900/mo in Pembroke Pines compared to $950/mo in Rockford, a monthly difference of $950.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 105 in Pembroke Pines and 99 in Rockford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Pembroke Pines vs $470/month in Rockford. Rockford offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Pembroke Pines and 92 in Rockford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Pembroke Pines vs $368 in Rockford. 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 91 in Pembroke Pines and 106 in Rockford. 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 $85,900 in Pembroke Pines and $53,300 in Rockford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,387 and $67,468 respectively. Pembroke Pines residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,004/month to housing in Pembroke Pines vs $1,244/month in Rockford. In Pembroke Pines, median rent of $1,900/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 88 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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