Living Cost Compare
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,767 in Rochester, MN and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 48% higher in Rochester, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rochester, MN
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,080
$760
+30% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,106
$772
+30% in Rochester, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,243
$926
+26% in Rochester, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,646
$1,158
+30% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$287,500
$165,200
+43% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$87,767
$45,984
+48% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,620
$45,780
+24% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
33.6 yr
+2.8 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
65.4%
42.9%
+22.5 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
50.1%
30.3%
+19.8 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
17.2 min
18.0 min
+0.8 min in Springfield, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
158.9
1,189.8
+649% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
1,379
4,231.6
+207% 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
45.4°F
56.3°F
+10.9°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
33.0 in
45.6 in
+12.5 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Minnesota vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.9
13.7
+19% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.95
$24.13
+61% 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 (MN / MO)
6.875%
4.225%
+2.7 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
4.70%
+5.1 pp in MN

Rochester vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Rochester versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Springfield?
Rochester is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).