Cost of Living in Peoria, IL
Peoria, IL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Peoria, IL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Peoria, IL?
With a price level of 91.2 (U.S. average = 100), Peoria, IL is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 36% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 9% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Peoria, IL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.2 | −8.8% |
| Housing | 63.8 | −36.2% |
| Goods | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Utilities | 90.5 | −9.5% |
| Other services | 99.6 | −0.4% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Peoria, IL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $758 | $30,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $818 | $32,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,039 | $41,560/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,346 | $53,840/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,449 | $57,960/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Peoria, IL
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Peoria, IL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,500 | $29,846 |
| $60,000 | $54,700 | $43,569 |
| $80,000 | $73,000 | $56,717 |
| $100,000 | $91,200 | $68,620 |
| $150,000 | $136,800 | $98,142 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Illinois 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Peoria, IL's median wage of $49,590 takes home about $3,310 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $818, which is 25% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,492 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Peoria, IL
- Federal income tax$3,771
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,075
- Medicare (1.45%)$719
- Illinois income tax$2,310
- Take-home pay$39,716
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
Highest-paying jobs in Peoria, IL
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $98,290 | $73,256 | $80,298 |
| Registered Nurse | $81,010 | $61,955 | $67,910 |
| Nursing Assistant | $43,040 | $34,777 | $38,120 |
| Office Clerks, General | $41,600 | $33,691 | $36,930 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,420 | $30,539 | $33,475 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $36,330 | $29,718 | $32,574 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $35,870 | $29,371 | $32,194 |
| Retail Salesperson | $33,870 | $27,863 | $30,541 |
| Cashier | $31,200 | $25,850 | $28,334 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $31,200 | $25,850 | $28,334 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Illinois cities
Half of Illinois’s 6,098,130 workers earn less than $51,960 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $37,960–$83,060 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Decatur, IL stretches a paycheck furthest, while Kankakee, IL is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $54,720 | 103.6 | $1,534 | 42% | $2,098 | $42,071 |
| St. Louis, MO | $49,990 | 95.1 | $989 | 30% | $2,346 | $42,084 |
| Davenport, IA | $48,550 | 89.1 | $928 | 29% | $2,316 | $43,704 |
| Peoria, IL | $49,590 | 91.2 | $818 | 25% | $2,492 | $43,533 |
| Rockford, IL | $47,120 | 92.2 | $895 | 28% | $2,259 | $41,076 |
| Champaign, IL | $50,700 | 92.7 | $932 | 28% | $2,447 | $43,744 |
| Springfield, IL | $52,670 | 92.7 | $970 | 28% | $2,533 | $45,326 |
| Bloomington, IL | $53,140 | 93.5 | $999 | 28% | $2,534 | $45,321 |
| Paducah, KY | $45,860 | 86.1 | $843 | 27% | $2,232 | $42,869 |
| Decatur, IL | $51,290 | 88.4 | $845 | 25% | $2,571 | $46,366 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $44,470 | 86.1 | $807 | 27% | $2,181 | $41,654 |
| Kankakee, IL | $45,830 | 96.4 | $1,011 | 33% | $2,062 | $38,260 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Peoria, IL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 91.2 | $818 | $49,590 | 166,020 |
| Montgomery, AL | 89.7 | $870 | $44,950 | 165,550 |
| Lubbock, TX | 91.3 | $974 | $42,130 | 166,780 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 91.1 | $1,061 | $47,650 | 165,150 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 98.9 | $1,493 | $47,520 | 168,700 |
| Beaumont, TX | 90.0 | $898 | $48,630 | 163,220 |
| Canton, OH | 89.4 | $846 | $45,810 | 163,080 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Peoria, IL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Peoria, IL metro area are 91.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 63.8%. It is the #263 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Peoria, IL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,739 in Peoria, IL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,590.
Can you afford Peoria, IL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,590 median wage takes home about $3,310 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $818 would take 25% of that.
How much is rent in Peoria, IL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Peoria, IL are $758 for a studio, $818 for one bedroom, $1,039 for two bedrooms and $1,346 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Peoria, IL
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $98,290
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $81,010
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $43,040
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $36,330
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,200
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $33,870
- Cashier — $31,200
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $41,600