Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $940 in Springfield, MO. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 15% higher in Springfield, MO. 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.

Cleveland, OH
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$678
$760
+12% in Springfield, MO
1 Bedroom
$732
$772
+5% in Springfield, MO
2 Bedroom
$903
$926
+3% in Springfield, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,158
+7% in Springfield, MO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$165,200
+76% in Springfield, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$45,984
+17% in Springfield, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$45,780
+9% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
33.6 yr
+2.7 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
42.9%
+1.7 pp in Springfield, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
30.3%
+9.0 pp in Springfield, MO
Avg Commute
22.9 min
18.0 min
+4.9 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
1,189.8
+25% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
4,231.6
+7% in Cleveland, OH

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
36.4 in
45.6 in
+9.2 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

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

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
13.7
+30% in Cleveland, 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

Cleveland vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Springfield?
They're close. Cleveland, OH runs about $940 a month and Springfield, MO about $940 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Springfield?
Cleveland 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).