Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 24% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$760
+33% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$772
+35% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$926
+34% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,158
+18% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$165,200
+29% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$45,984
+24% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$45,780
+16% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.6 yr
+1.5 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
52.3%
42.9%
+9.4 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
30.3%
+4.3 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
32.0 min
18.0 min
+14.0 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
1,189.8
+30% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
4,615.3
4,231.6
+8% in Philadelphia, PA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.1°F
56.3°F
+0.8°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
45.6 in
+2.9 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Springfield, MO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
13.7
+37% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$24.13
+26% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / MO)
6%
4.225%
+1.8 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
4.70%
+1.6 pp in MO

Philadelphia vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Springfield?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).