Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Provo or Springfield?

Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Provo vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Provo, UT versus $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Provo, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 27% higher in Provo, UT. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Provo, UT

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,009

$760

+25% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$978

$772

+21% in Provo, UT

2 Bedroom

$1,128

$926

+18% in Provo, UT

3 Bedroom

$1,381

$1,158

+16% in Provo, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$437,100

$165,200

+62% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$62,800

$45,984

+27% in Provo, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,010

$45,780

+5% in Provo, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

23.7 yr

33.6 yr

+9.9 yr in Springfield, MO

Homeownership

39.9%

42.9%

+3.0 pp in Springfield, MO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

45.0%

30.3%

+14.7 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

18.5 min

18.0 min

+0.5 min in Provo, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

205.7

1,189.8

+478% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

1,280.6

4,231.6

+230% 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

53.4°F

56.3°F

+2.9°F in Springfield, MO

Annual Precipitation

19.8 in

45.6 in

+25.8 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Provo, UT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.4

16.2

+21% in Springfield, MO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.84

$28.78

+143% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Springfield, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (UT / MO)

6.1%

4.225%

+1.9 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.50%

4.70%

+0.2 pp in MO

Provo vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or Springfield?: Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).