Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Lexington, KY's $1,070, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Springfield?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Springfield?

Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Lexington vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lexington, KY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 32% higher in Lexington, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

$769

$760

+1% in Lexington, KY

1 Bedroom

$887

$772

+13% in Lexington, KY

2 Bedroom

$1,119

$926

+17% in Lexington, KY

3 Bedroom

$1,408

$1,158

+18% in Lexington, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$272,100

$165,200

+39% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income

$67,631

$45,984

+32% in Lexington, KY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,620

$45,780

+6% in Lexington, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

33.6 yr

+1.6 yr in Lexington, KY

Homeownership

53.6%

42.9%

+10.7 pp in Lexington, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

47.3%

30.3%

+17.0 pp in Lexington, KY

Avg Commute

20.8 min

18.0 min

+2.8 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.1

1,189.8

+342% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

2,304.4

4,231.6

+84% 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

55.6°F

56.3°F

+0.7°F in Springfield, MO

Annual Precipitation

45.2 in

45.6 in

+0.4 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

13.7

+9% in Lexington, KY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.48

$24.13

+18% in Lexington, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Springfield, MO

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Lexington, KY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Springfield, MO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Springfield, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / MO)

4.225%

+1.8 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

4.70%

+1.2 pp in MO

Lexington vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Lexington, KY's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Springfield?: Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).