Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 30% higher in Columbus, 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.

Columbus, OH
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$760
+25% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$772
+27% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$926
+27% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,158
+15% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$165,200
+30% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$45,984
+30% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$45,780
+11% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
33.6 yr
+0.6 yr in Springfield, MO
Homeownership
44.3%
42.9%
+1.4 pp in Columbus, OH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
30.3%
+7.9 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
21.8 min
18.0 min
+3.8 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
1,189.8
+145% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
3,093.9
4,231.6
+37% 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
40.1 in
45.6 in
+5.5 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

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

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

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

Columbus vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Springfield?
Columbus 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).