Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 39% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$760
+36% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$772
+39% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$926
+34% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,158
+25% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$165,200
+48% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$45,984
+39% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$45,780
+16% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
33.6 yr
+2.1 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
42.9%
+2.6 pp in Chicago, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
30.3%
+13.0 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
18.0 min
+15.5 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
1,189.8
+120% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
3,489.9
4,231.6
+21% in Springfield, MO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
56.3°F
+3.6°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
45.6 in
+7.6 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
13.7
+43% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$24.13
+57% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / MO)
6.25%
4.225%
+2.0 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
4.70%
+0.3 pp in IL

Chicago vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Springfield?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).