City Comparison

Rockford vs St George

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Rockford

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

St George

Utah
110
Above Average
$550,000
Median Home
$1,525/mo
Median Rent
$72,400
Median Income

The Verdict

28.2%

Rockford is 28.2% less expensive than St George overall. A household earning $75,000 in Rockford would need approximately $104,430 in St George to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Rockford
144
St George
Groceries
99
Rockford
100
St George
Utilities
92
Rockford
87
St George
Transportation
101
Rockford
104
St George
Healthcare
106
Rockford
96
St George

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Rockford has the same purchasing power as $104,430 in St George.

Conversely, $75,000 in St George equals $53,864 in Rockford.

Living in Rockford vs St George

Housing Costs

Rockford's housing index of 52 is lower St George's 144, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $550,000. The $395,000 difference in home prices means roughly $25,680 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Rockford compared to $1,525/mo in St George, a monthly difference of $575.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Rockford and 100 in St George. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Rockford vs $475/month in St George. 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 92 in Rockford and 87 in St George. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Rockford vs $348 in St George. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Rockford and 96 in St George. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $53,300 in Rockford and $72,400 in St George. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $67,468 and $65,818 respectively. Rockford residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,244/month to housing in Rockford vs $1,689/month in St George. In Rockford, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In St George, median rent of $1,525/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 92 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rockford is 28.2% more affordable overall with an index of 79 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Rockford has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $104,430 in St George, based on the cost of living difference.
Rockford's housing index is 52 with median homes at $155,000, while St George's is 144 with median homes at $550,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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