Living Cost Compare
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 70% higher in Naperville, 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.

Naperville, IL
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,713
$760
+56% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,594
$772
+52% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,889
$926
+51% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$2,446
$1,158
+53% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$509,900
$165,200
+68% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$150,937
$45,984
+70% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$45,780
+16% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
33.6 yr
+6.5 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
74.3%
42.9%
+31.4 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
71.7%
30.3%
+41.4 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
31.4 min
18.0 min
+13.4 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
85.7
1,189.8
+1288% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
892.2
4,231.6
+374% 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
49.9°F
56.3°F
+6.4°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
45.6 in
+8.7 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
13.7
+43% in Naperville, 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

Naperville vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Springfield?
Naperville 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).