Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 11% higher in Cincinnati, OH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$791
$760
+4% in Cincinnati, OH
1 Bedroom
$817
$772
+6% in Cincinnati, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$926
+9% in Cincinnati, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,158
+6% in Cincinnati, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$165,200
+23% in Cincinnati, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$45,984
+11% in Cincinnati, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$45,780
+9% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
33.6 yr
+0.6 yr in Springfield, MO
Homeownership
38.9%
42.9%
+4.0 pp in Springfield, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
30.3%
+11.0 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
18.0 min
+5.1 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
1,189.8
+39% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
3,877.7
4,231.6
+9% 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
54.3°F
56.3°F
+2.0°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
45.6 in
+3.6 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.94/gal
+6% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
13.7
+30% in Cincinnati, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$24.13
+6% 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 (OH / MO)
5.75%
4.225%
+1.5 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
4.70%
+2.0 pp in MO

Cincinnati vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Cincinnati, OH's $1,030, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Springfield?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).