Is Springfield expensive to live in?

Springfield is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $772 per month ranks #106 of 112 and is 28% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Springfield?

Average rent in Springfield, MO runs a studio around $760, a one-bedroom around $772, a two-bedroom around $926, a three-bedroom around $1,158 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Springfield?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $772 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year. The median household income here is $45,984.

How much does it cost to live in Springfield per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Springfield is about $940 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Springfield, MO

Population 169,432 · Missouri

~$940/mo est.1BR $772Home $165,200

Compare with:

The cost of living in Springfield, MO is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $772 a month — 28% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $760 and two-bedrooms $926.

Median household income here is $45,984, 34% lower than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $940 before food and transport. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $772

Studio

$760

1 Bedroom

$772

2 Bedroom

$926

3 Bedroom

$1,158

Buying a Home$165,200

Median Home Value

$165,200

Income$45,984

Median Household Income

$45,984

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,780

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.66

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities13.7¢/kWh

Electricity

13.7¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$24.13/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (MO)4.225% sales

State Sales Tax

4.22%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 4.70%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime1,189.8 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,189.8

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

4,231.6

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Springfield Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 33.6 yrs

Median Age

33.6 yrs

Homeownership

42.9%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.3%

Avg Commute

18.0 min

Climate56.3°F

Avg Annual Temperature

56.3°F

Annual Precipitation

45.6 in

Springfield cost of living — FAQ

Is Springfield expensive to live in?: Springfield is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $772 per month ranks #106 of 112 and is 28% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Springfield?: Average rent in Springfield, MO runs a studio around $760, a one-bedroom around $772, a two-bedroom around $926, a three-bedroom around $1,158 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Springfield?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $772 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year. The median household income here is $45,984.
How much does it cost to live in Springfield per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Springfield is about $940 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Springfield with nearby cities

Springfield vs Kansas City Springfield vs Tulsa Springfield vs Little Rock Springfield vs St. Louis Springfield vs Wichita Springfield vs Memphis

Nearby cities

Kansas City, MO 148 mi Tulsa, OK 166 mi Little Rock, AR 179 mi St. Louis, MO 195 mi Wichita, KS 224 mi Memphis, TN 230 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.