Living Cost Compare
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $82,424 in Raleigh, NC and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 44% higher in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,301
$760
+42% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,323
$772
+42% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,462
$926
+37% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,715
$1,158
+32% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$377,800
$165,200
+56% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$82,424
$45,984
+44% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,990
$45,780
+12% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
33.6 yr
+1.1 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
51.2%
42.9%
+8.3 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
52.9%
30.3%
+22.6 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
23.4 min
18.0 min
+5.4 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
491.5
1,189.8
+142% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
2,838.4
4,231.6
+49% 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
60.6°F
56.3°F
+4.3°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
45.6 in
+0.5 in in Raleigh, NC

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)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
13.7
+9% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$24.13
+12% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / MO)
4.75%
4.225%
+0.5 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
4.70%
+0.7 pp in MO

Raleigh vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Raleigh than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Springfield?
Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).